title: Left atrial inflow propagation rate derived by transesophageal color M-mode echocardiography is a promising index of preload.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) is a useful index of preload and an important determinant of cardiac function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We postulated that the rate of blood propagating into the left atrium (LAIF-PR) would be a useful measure of PCWP in critically ill patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two critically ill patients (36 men/16 women) receiving mechanical ventilation were studied by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Left atrial inflow propagation rate was measured in systole and diastole as the slope of the color M-mode signal entering the left atrium from the right upper pulmonic vein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systolic and diastolic LAIF-PRs were feasible in 49 and 44 patients, respectively. Mean (+/- 1 standard deviation) LAIF-PR in systole was 40 +/- 26 cm/s (range 11-132) and in diastole 34 +/- 22 cm/s (range 5-102). Negative correlations with PCWP (mean 19 +/- 9 mmHg; range 3-40) were good for LAIF-PR in systole (r = -0.71, standard error of estimate [SEE] = 6 mmHg; p < 0.0001) and diastole (r = -0.71, SEE = 6 mmHg; p < 0.0001). Mean ejection fraction was 52 +/- 22% (range 15-88) and cardiac output was 6.97 +/- 3.52 l/min (range 2.26-17.93). Multivariate regression showed PCWP as the only independent predictor of systolic (p < 0.0001) and diastolic (p < 0.0001) LAIF-PR among age, heart rate, cardiac output, ejection fraction, or left atrial diameter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Left atrial inflow propagation rate derived by color M-mode TEE aligned with the right upper pulmonic vein is a promising new index of preload. Future studies addressing the determinants of LAIF-PR, such as left atrial compliance, are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. mfstod01@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Marcus F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Stoddard
authors.forename: Norberto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calzada
authors.forename: Rita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Longaker
mesh_terms: D016279:Atrial Function, Left; D016638:Critical Illness; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012121:Respiration, Artificial