Measurement of aortic arch distension wave with the echo-track technique.
The aim of this study was to use the echo-track method for measuring aortic arch diameter, distension waveform and elastic parameters. Data were obtained from 50 healthy volunteers of 32 +/- 15 y (mean +/- 1 SD). The aortic arch was interrogated from the suprasternal position with M-mode ultrasonography using a 3.5-MHz transducer; diameter and distension waves were determined by means of an echo-track algorithm (WTS, Pie Medical); arterial blood pressure was measured in the arm with sphygmomanometry. Aortic arch diameter, distension, distensibility and compliance were 24.55 +/- 2.99 mm, 2199 +/- 726 micrometer, 3.9 +/- 1.4. 10(-3) mmHg(-1) and 1.86 +/- 0.61 mm(2). mmHg(-1), respectively. Intrasession, interobserver and intersession variability was less than 10%, 10% and 18%, respectively. It is concluded that aortic arch distension wave can be recorded noninvasively with acceptable reproducibility, allowing assessment of aortic elastic parameters, and yielding insight into pressure wave reflection within the arterial system.
Studinger
P
P
Clinical Research Department and Second Institute of Physiology, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
Lénárd
Z
Z
Reneman
R
R
Kollai
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D003187:Compliance; D004548:Elasticity; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods