Choosing apical long-axis instead of two-chamber view gives more accurate biplane echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction: a comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.
BACKGROUND
We sought to evaluate whether the use of apical long-axis (APLAX) rather than two-chamber (2CH) view, in combination with four-chamber (4CH) view, improved accuracy of biplane echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a reference standard.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive cardiac patients underwent cardiac MRI and 2D-echocardiography. Standard apical LV views were digitally acquired with baseline tissue harmonic imaging and low-power contrast echocardiography. Echo and MRI LV volumes were calculated by manual tracing and disc summation methods.


RESULTS
Feasiblity for biplane volume measurements increased with the use of APLAX. Precontrast limits of agreement (LOA) for EF compared to MRI were -19.1 to 9.0 % (EF units) using 2CH, narrowing to -14.6 to 6.7% using the APLAX. With contrast, corresponding LOAs narrowed from -10.5 to 6.1%, to -7.3 to 3.8%, respectively. The improved accuracy with APLAX was evident regardless of image quality, previous MI and regional LV dyssynergy. Both intra- and interobserver variability improved by substituting 2CH with APLAX view.


CONCLUSIONS
Using APLAX rather than 2CH in combination with 4CH view improved feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility of biplane echocardiographic EF measurements in cardiac patients, even with optimisation of endocardial borders by contrast.
Malm
Siri
S
Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. siri.malm@medisin.ntnu.no
Sagberg
Einar
E
Larsson
Henrik
H
Skjaerpe
Terje
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*