A comparison of real-time, two dimensional echocardiography and cineangiography in detecting left ventricular asynergy.

Abstract

Left ventricular wall motion was assessed in 105 consecutive patients both invasively, using biplane cineangiography and noninvasively, by a real-time, phased-array, two-dimensional echocardiography system. Ventricular wall motion in 5 anatomic areas of the ventricle (anterolateral, posterolateral, apical, septal and inferior) was analyzed by both methods in a double-blind manner. Two-dimensional echocardiographic images were deemed adequate for analysis in 82% of the regions (430 of 525). Discrepancies [55] were noted in the comparison of the remaining 430 regions. The reasons for discrepancies in interpretation between the 2 methods were established for 54 during retrospective review: 33 were due to echocardiography (inadequate target visualization, observer error or tangential echo views). Fifteen were related to angiography (overlay of silhouettes or observer error) and 6 were due to other reasons including definition problems or spatial orientation difficulties. Both real-time, two-dimensional echocardiography and cineangiography have advantages and disadvantages. The techniques used together could provide more complete information concerning ventricular wall movement than is now available.