Post systolic shortening in nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with delayed emptying of the apex: a Doppler flow, tissue Doppler and strain rate imaging case study.

We report a case of a 92-year-old woman with syncope and exertional dyspnea, who on echocardiographic examination proved to have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Doppler flow revealed delayed emptying of the apex, extending into the early filling phase. Tissue Doppler and strain rate imaging illustrated postsystolic shortening corresponding to the apical ejection, demonstrating that the apical flow was due to wall thickening resulting in active ejection. The imaging methods and mechanics of post-systolic shortening are discussed.