[Correlation and concordance between echocardiographic measurements obtained during echocardiography and digitized image measurements--transversal study].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correlation and concordance between the measurements of echocardiographic analysis of cardiac dimensions obtained through the Echo off-line applicative (software for obtaining digitized image measurements in a dedicated workstation) available to public domain, and those obtained through the conventional method.


METHODS
Transversal contemporary study, of 56 randomized patients whose images were obtained during examinations. The measurements of the M mode and 2D, were done in the ventricles, left atrium, and aorta by the Echo off-line program. These measurements were compared to those obtained by another professional, through Pearson's correlation test (r), alpha = 0.05 and by concordance analysis (Bland and Altman).


RESULTS
The measurements carried out by the Echo off-line system showed r that varied from 0.85 to 0.98. The analysis of concordance showed that for most measurements, the mean difference between the methods was approximately zero. The variation of absolute values did not show, in average, a clinical significance. The Echo off-line applicative allows a reduction of approximately 30% in the time spent to obtain the measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the accuracy of the Echo off-line program to measure cardiac dimensions in a dedicated workstation, showing that it can be routinely used in echocardiography labs.
Hatem
Maria Amélia Bulhões
MA
Instituto de Cardiologia, Rio Grande do Sul.
Castro
Iran
I
Hatem
Domingos M
DM
Zuccolotto
Marcos
M
Schuck Júnior
Adalberto
A
Pellanda
Lucia C
LC
Pandolfo
Fernanda
F
Feier
Flávia
F