Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of Left Ventricular Function by Contrast Echo

  • Chapter
Handbook of Contrast Echocardiography

  • 176 Accesses

Abstract

Accurate and reproducible quantification of left ventricular (LV) function is a crucial component of clinical cardiology. LV function should be assessed in each cardiac patient. Earlier, research and development of diagnostic measures concentrated on systolic LV function, because diastole was thought to be a passive process, which is now known not to be the case. However, it is still easier to evaluate systolic than diastolic function. In the physiology lab, LV function is assessed using calculations derived from pressure and volume recordings; in clinical cardiology measurement of LIV wall motion has become the usual method for routine invasive and non-invasive diagnostics (1). We distinguish between global and regional systolic function; in order to assess global systolic LV function, quantification of end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (LVED, LVES) and ejection fraction (EF) is essential. LV volume and ejection fraction are powerful prognostic measures in patients with coronary and valvular heart disease (2).

And they shall be accounted poet kings

Who simply tell the most heart-easing things

John Keats 1795–1821

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Schiller NB, Shah PM, Crawford M et al. Recommendations for quantification of the left ventricle by 2-dimensional echocardiography; American Society of Echocardiography committee on standards, subcommittee on quantification of 2-dimensional echocardiograms. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1989; 2: 358 – 367

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. White HD, Morris RM, Brown MA, Brandt PWT, Whitlick PML, Wild CJ. Left ventricular end-systolic volume as the major determinant of survival recovery from myocardial infarction. Circulation 1987; 76: 44 – 51

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cannon CP, Thompson B, McCabe et al. Predictors of non Q wave acute myocardial infarction in patients with acute ischemic syndroms. An ananlysis from the TIMI III trials. Am J Cardiol 1995; 75: 977 – 981

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Cohen GC, Pietrolungo DO, Thomas JD, Klein AL. A practical guide to assessment of ventricular diastolic function using Doppler echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 1996; 27: 1753 – 60

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Weyman AE,Franklin TD, Egenes KM et al. Correlation between extent of abnormal regional wall motion and myocardial infarct size in chronically infarcted dogs. Circulation 1997; 56: 72 – 78

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hoffmann R, Lethen H, Marwick T et al. Analysis of interinstitutional observer agreement in the interpretation of dobutamine stress echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 19996; 27:330–336

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Panza J, Laurienzo M, Curiel RV, Quyumi AA, Cannon RO. Transesophageal. dobutamine stress echocardiography for evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994; 24: 1260 – 1267

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Nagel E, Lehmkuhl HB, Bocksch W et al. Non-invasive diagnosis of ischemia-induced wall motion abnormalities with the use of high-dose dobutamine stress MRI: comparison with dobutamine stress echocardiography. Circulation 1999; 99: 763 – 770

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ashburn Wl, Schelbert Hr, Verba JW Left ventricular ejection fraction — a review of several radionuclide angiographic approaches using the scintillation camera. Proc cardiovasc Dis 1978; 20: 267 – 284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schad N. The intermittend phased injection of contrast material into the heart. Am J Roentgen 1968; 104: 464

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schad N. The intermittend phased injection of contrast material into the heart. Am J Roentgen 1968; 104: 464

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Cohen JL, Cheirif J, Segar DS, Gillam LD, Gottdiener JS, Hausnerova E, Bruns DE. Improved left ventricular endocardial. border delineation and opacification with Optison, a new echocardiography contrast agent. Results of a Phase III multicenter trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998; 32 (3): 746 – 752

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Crouse LJ, Cheirif J, Hanly DE et al. Opacification and border delineation improvement in patients with suboptimal endocardial border definition in routine echocardiography: results of the phase III Albunex multicenter trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 1993; 22: 1494 – 1500

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Feinstein SB, Cheirif J, Ten Cate FJ et al. Safety and efficacy of a new transpulmonary ultrasound contrast agent: initial multicenter clinical results. J Am Coll Cardiol 1990; 16: 316 – 324

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Grayburn PA, Weiss JL, Hakc TC et al. Phase 3 multi center trial comparing the efficacy of 2% dodecafluoropentane emulsion (EchoGen) and sonicated 5% human albumin (Albunex) as ultrasound contrast agents in patients with suboptimal echo cardiograms. J Am Coll Cardiol 1998; 32: 230 – 236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mulvagh SL, Rainbird AJ, Al-Mansour HA et al. Harmonic dobutamine stress echocardiography: Does contrast make a difference in diagnostic feasability and accuracy? Circulation 1998; 12. 527

    Google Scholar 

  17. Becher H, Tiemann K, Schlosser T, Pohl C, Nanda NC, Averkiou M, Powers J, Lüderitz B. Improvement of endocardial border delineation using tissue harmonic imaging. Echocardiography 1998; 15 (5): 511 – 516

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rakowski H., Appleton C, Chan KW et al. Canadien consensus recommendations for the measurement and reporting of diastolic dysfunction by echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1996; 9: 736 – 760

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. van Bibra H, Sutherland G, Becher H, Neudert J, Nihoyannopoulos P. Clinical evaluation of left heart Doppler contrast enhancement by a saccharide-based transpulmonary contrast agent. The Levovist Cardiac Working Group. J Am Coll Cordial 1995; 25 (2): 500 – 508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Lambertz H, Schumacher U, Tries HP, Stein T. Improvement of pulmonary venous flow Doppler signal after intravenous injection of Levovist. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1997; 10: 891 – 8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Thanigaraj, S, Perez JE. Image enhancement with second generation contrast agents improve diagnostic accuracy and reduces additional testing. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999; 12: 366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Porter TR, Xie F, Kricsfeld A, Chiou A, Dabestani A. Improved endocardial border resolution during dobutamine stress echocardiography with intravenous sonicated dextrose albumin. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994; 23: 1440 – 1443

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Thanigaraj S, Schlechtman KB, Perez JE. Improved echocardiography delineation of left ventricular thrombus with use of intravenous second-generation-contrast image enhancement. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999; 12: 1022 – 1026

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Roberto M. Lang, M.D., James Bednarz, B.S., RDCS, Victor Mor-Avi, Ph.D., Kirk T. Spencer, M.D.J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999; 12: 871 – 5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Burns, RN. (1995). Hemodynamics. In K. J. W Taylor, P N. Burns, & P. N. T. Wells (Eds.), Clinical Applications of Doppler Ultrasound (pp. 35 – 55 ). New York: Raven Press

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bezante G, Schwarz KQ, Chen X, Bertolazzi M, Spallarosa P, Villa G, Brunelli C. Automatic LV volume and ejection fraction by contrast harmonic color Doppler imaging compared to radionuclide ventriculography Eur Heart J 1999; 3628

    Google Scholar 

  27. Caiati C, Bina A, Zedda N et al. Contrast-enhanced harmonic colour Doppler reduces variability in assessing left ventricular volumes. Eur Heart J 1998; 19 (abstract supplement): 2350

    Google Scholar 

  28. Becher H, Tiemann K, Schlief R, Nanda N. Harmonic Power Doppler Contrast Echocardiography: preliminary clinical results (1997) Echocardiography 14; 6:637–642

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imaging Research Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, M4N 3M5, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Peter N Burns (Professor of Medical Biophysics and Radiology)

  2. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Medizinische Universitätsklink und Poliklink II Kardiologie/Pneumologie, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    Harald Becher (Professor of Cardiology)

Authors
  1. Peter N Burns
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harald Becher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2000 Harald Becher and Peter N Burns

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Burns, P.N., Becher, H. (2000). Assessment of Left Ventricular Function by Contrast Echo. In: Handbook of Contrast Echocardiography. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59748-0_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59748-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-67083-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-59748-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation