Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Usefulness of dipyridamole transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery flow

  • Articles
  • Published:
The International Journal of Cardiac Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

High-dose dipyridamole transesophageal stress echocardiography has recently been proposed as a useful and safe method to assess myocardial ischemia in patients with a poor transthoracic acoustic window. It has also been shown that transophageal echocardiography (TEE) allows the study of coronary blood flow reserve (CBFR) in the left anterior descending artery (LAD).

The aim of our study was to assess whether the morphologic information and pathophysiologic data on CBFR and myocardial ischemia can be collected by a single stress TEE without comprimising its feasibility, safety and accuracy. We studied, 29 patients with known or suspected CAD (previous myocardial infarction or angina) (Group A), and as a control group, we studied 11 patients with mitral disease or mitral prostheses (Group B).

All patients underwent the coronary angiography. None of Group B patients showed significant coronary artery stenosis (>70%). In baseline conditions left ventricular wall motion and LAD coronary blood flow velocity (CBFV) were also evaluated. The following CBFV parameters were measured: maximal diastolic velocity (MaxDV), mean diastolic velocity (MnDV), maximal systolic velocity (MaxSV), mean systolic velocity (MnSV). The ratios of dipyridamole to rest maximal and to mean to diastolic velocities (MaxDV-Dip/Max DV-rest; MnDv-Dip/MnDV-rest) were measured as indexes of CBFR.

No side effects were observed and the test could be completed in all patients (feasibility 100%). Wall motion analysis was adequate in all patients (feasibility 100%). Comparison between wall motion analysis was obtained and angiographic findings showed that the overall sensitivity and specificity of TEE were 84% and 93% respectively. Sensitivity for one, two and three vessel disease was 60%, 70% and 100%, respectively. LAD CBFV was adequately recorded in 85% of patients. CBFR parameters showed a significant difference between the two groups (Max DV-Dip/Max DV-rest; 1.67±0.7 vs. 2.73±0.6,P<0.001); comparison between Group B patients and those of Group A with angiographically documented LAD stenosis showed a statistically significant difference in CBFR parameters (MaxDV-Dip/MnDV-rest, 2.73±0.6 vs. 1.65±0.7,P<0.001, MnDV-Dip/MnDV-rest, 2.56±0.5 vs. 1.69±0.6 P<0.001). We conclude that transesophageal stress echocardiography is a useful method to study CAD and that it is possible to assess both morphologic and pathophysiologic information during a single examination.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Picano, E, Lattanzi F, Masini M, Distante A, L'Abbate, A. High dose dipyridamole echocardiography test in effort angina pectoris. J Am Coll Card 1986; 8: 848–854.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Picano E, Severi S, Michelassi C, Lattanzi C, Masini M, Orsini E, Distante A, L'Abbate A. Prognostic importance of dipyridamole-echocardiography test in coronary artery disease. Circulation 1989; 80: 450–457.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Marcovitz PA, Armstrong WF. Accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography in detecting coronary artery disease. Am J Card 1992; 69: 1269–1273.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Mazeika PK, Nadazdin A, Oakley CM. Prognostic value of dobutamine echocardiography in patients with high pretest likelihood of coronary artery disease. Am J Card 1993; 71: 33–39.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lambertz H, Kreis A, Trumper H, Hanrath P. Simultaneous transesophageal atrial pacing and transesophageal twodimensional echocardiography: a new method of stress echocardiography. J Am Coll Card 1990 16: 1143–1153.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Biagini A, Maffei S, Baroni M. Early assessment of coronary reserve after bypass surgery by dipyridamole transesophageal echocardiography stress test. Am Heart J 1990; 120: 1097–1101.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kotler MN, Jacobs LE. Transesophageal atrial pacing or pharmacologic stress testing in detection of coronary artery disease in patients who are unable to undergo exercise stress testing. J Am Coll Card 1990, 16: 1154–1157.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Pearce B, Sheikh H, De Bruijn NP, Kisslo JK. Imaging of the coronary arteries by transesophageal echocardiography. J Am Soc Echo card 1989; 2: 276–283.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Zwicky P, Werner GD, Muge A, Lichtlen PR. Imaging of coronary artery by colorcoded transesophageal Doppler echocardiography Am J Cardiol 1988; 62: 639–640

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Samdarshi T, Nanda NC, Gatewood RP, Ballal RP, Chang LK, Singh HP, Nath H, Kirklin JK, Pacifico AD. Usefulness and limitation of transesophageal echocardiography in the assessment of proximal coronary artery stenosis. J Am Coll Card 1992; 19: 572–80.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Memmola C, Iliceto S, Rizzon P. Detection of proximal stenosis of left coronary artery by digital transesophageal echocardiography: feasibility, sensitivity and specificity. J Am Soc Echo cardiogr 1993; 6: 149–157.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Yamagishi M, Yasu T, Ohara K, Kuro M, Miyatake K. Detection of coronary blood flow associated with left main coronary artery stenosis by transesophageal Doppler color flow echocardiography. J Am Coll Card 1991; 17: 87–93.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Yoshida K, Yoshikawa J, Hozumi T, Yamaura Y, Akasaka T, Fukaya T, Kato H. Detection of left main coronary artery stenosis by transesophageal color Doppler and two dimensional echocardiography. Circulation 1990; 81: 1271–1276.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yamagishi M, Miyatake K, Beppu S, Kumon S, Suzuki S, Tanaka N, Nimura Y. Assessment of coronary blood flow by transesophageal two dimensional pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Am J Card 1988; 15: 641–644.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Iliceto S, Marangelli V, Memmola C, Rizzon P. Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography evaluation of coronary blood flow velocity in baseline condition and during dipyridamole induced coronary vasodilation. Circulation 1991; 83: 61–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Erbel L. Transesophageal echocardiography: New window to coronary artery and coronary blood flow. Circulation 1991; 83: 61–69.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Agati L, Renzi M, Sciomer S, Voci P, Penco M, Fedele F, Dagianti A. Transesophageal dipyridamole echocardiography for diagnosis of coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Card 1992; 19: 756–770.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Geiser E. A Transesophageal echocardiography stress testing: feasible, but place and accuracy still in question. J Am Coll Card 1992; 19: 771–772.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Smith J, Calahan M, Byrd BF. Intraoperative detection of myocardial ischaemia in high risk patients: electrocardiography versus two dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Circulation 1985; 72: 1015–1021.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gould KL, Kirkleide RL, Buch M. Coronary blood flow reserve as a physiologic measure of stenosis severity. J Am Coll Card 1990; 15: 459–474.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Strauer BE. Clinical significance of coronary reserve in clinical heart disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 1990; 15: 775–783.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bradley JA, Alpert JS. Coronary flow reserve. Am Heart J 1991; 122: 1116–1128.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Picano E, Simonetti I, Masini M, Marzilli M, Lattanzi F, Distante A, De Nes M, L'Abbate A. Transient myocardial dysfunction during pharmacologic vasodilation as an index of reduced coronary reserve: a coronary haemodynamics and echocardiography study. J Am Coll Cardiol 1986; 8: 84–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Wilson RF, Lauglin DE, Ackell PH, Chilian WM, Holida MD, Hartley CJ, Amstrong ML, Marcus ML, White CW. Transluminal, subselective measurement of coronary artery blood flow velocity and vasodilator reserve in man. Circulation 1985; 1: 82–92.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wilson RF, White CW. Intracoronary papaverine: an ideal coronary vasodilator for studies of the coronary circulation in conscious human. Circulation 1986; 73: 444–451.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rossen JD, Quillen JL, Lopez AG, Stenberg RG, Talman CL, Winniford MD. Comparison of coronary vasodilation with intravenous dipyridamole and adenosine. J Am Coll Cardiol 1991; 18: 485–491.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Rossen J, Simonetti I, Marcus ML, Winniford MD. Coronary dilation with standard dose dipyridamole and dipyridamole combined with handgrip. Circulation 1989; 79: 566–572.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Feldman RL, Nicholos WW, Pepine CJ, Conti R. Acute effect of intravenous dipyridamole on regional coronary hemodynamics and metabolism. Circulation 1981; 64: 333–344.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Picano E. dipyridamole echocardiography test: historical background and physiologic basis. Eur Heart J 1989; 10: 365–376.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. McGinn AL, White CW, Wilson RF. Interstudy variability of coronary flow reserve. Influence of heart rate, arterial pressure and ventricular preload. Circulation 1990; 81: 1319–1330.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Department, S. Spirito Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Alfonso Galati, Gabriella Greco, Claudio Coletta, Roberto Ricci, Roberto Serdoz, Giuseppe Richichi & Vincenzo Ceci

  2. Hemodynamic Laboratory, S. Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Roberto Serdoz & Giuseppe Richichi

Authors
  1. Alfonso Galati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriella Greco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Claudio Coletta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Roberto Ricci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roberto Serdoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Giuseppe Richichi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Vincenzo Ceci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Galati, A., Greco, G., Coletta, C. et al. Usefulness of dipyridamole transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of myocardial ischemia and coronary artery flow. Int J Cardiac Imag 12, 169–178 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806219

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806219

Key words

Search

Navigation