title: Doppler-derived ejection intraventricular pressure gradients provide a reliable assessment of left ventricular systolic chamber function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ejection intraventricular pressure gradients are caused by the systolic force developed by the left ventricle (LV). By postprocessing color Doppler M-mode (CDMM) images, we can measure noninvasively the ejection intraventricular pressure difference (EIVPD) between the LV apex and the outflow tract. This study was designed to assess the value of Doppler-derived EIVPDs as noninvasive indices of systolic chamber function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CDMM images and pressure-volume (conductance) signals were simultaneously acquired in 9 minipigs undergoing pharmacological interventions and acute ischemia. Inertial, convective, and total EIVPD curves were calculated from CDMM recordings. Peak EIVPD closely correlated with indices of systolic function based on the pressure-volume relationship: peak elastance (within-animal R=0.98; between-animals R=0.99), preload recruitable stroke work (within-animal R=0.81; between-animals R=0.86), and peak of the first derivative of pressure corrected for end-diastolic volume (within-animal R=0.88; between-animals R=0.91). The correlation of peak inertial EIVPD with these indices was also high (all R>0.75). Load dependence of EIVPDs was studied in another 5 animals in which consecutive beats obtained during load manipulation were analyzed. During caval occlusion (40% EDV reduction), dP/dtmax, ejection fraction, and stroke volume significantly changed, whereas peak EIVPD remained constant. Aortic occlusion (40% peak LV pressure increase) significantly modified dP/dtmax, ejection fraction, and stroke volume; a nearly significant trend toward decreasing peak EIVPD was observed (P=0.06), whereas inertial EIVPD was unchanged (P=0.6). EIVPD beat-to-beat and interobserver variabilities were 2+/-12% and 5+/-11%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doppler-derived EIVPDs provide quantitative, reproducible, and relatively load-independent indices of global systolic chamber function that correlate closely with currently available reference methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yotti
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bermejo
authors.forename: M Mar
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Desco
authors.forename: J Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Antoranz
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rojo-Alvarez
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cortina
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allué
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Abella
authors.forename: Mar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: García-Fernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography; D006439:Hemodynamics; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*