Improving feasibility of posterior descending coronary artery flow recording by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography.
OBJECTIVE
Recording coronary arteries' flow by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) is a new task. Despite several studies concerning the left anterior descending artery (LAD) exist, the same for posterior descending coronary artery (PD) do not. Reported feasibility is not more than 76%. The aim of the study was to try to improve feasibility by using an additional two-dimensional view as a guide.


RESULTS
PD flow recording was performed in 35 consecutive unselected patients under the guidance of the usual two-dimensional modified view [a two-chamber view (2-C)], and with a new four-chamber modified view (4-C). A semi-quantitative growing-quality score (from 0 to 3 points) to the trace was given. Contrast enhancement was used if PD was not visualized without it. The overall feasibility was 80%. A good or very good velocity signal (TTDE score > or = 2) was observed in 48% of patients without contrast enhancement. Time for first visualization of PD was short and significantly lower in 2-C than in 4-C (66 +/- 39 vs 90 +/- 70 s, respectively, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TTDE recording of PD flow gained better feasibility being guided by two views. Maximal time for first visualization of PD was less than 3 min.
Auriti
A
A
Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Echo-Lab, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy. a.auriti@santilipponeri.roma.it
Cianfrocca
C
C
Pristipino
C
C
Greco
S
S
Galeazzi
M
M
Guido
V
V
Santini
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic