Third Department of Internal Medicine, Safarik University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2010 Aug;26(6):641-9. doi: 10.1007/s10554-010-9619-y. Epub 2010 Mar 26.
The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of a new image analysis, velocity vector imaging (VVI), in the assessment of left atrial volumes (LAV) and left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF). We retrospectively analysed 100 transthoracic echocardiographic findings in 71 men, and 29 women (mean age 57 +/- 19.8 years). Two subgroups of patients were defined: (1) with left ventricular (LV) EF > 50%, and (2) LV EF < 50%. For the VVI method of indexed LAV assessment we used the apical four-chamber view. From the displacement of LA endocardial pixels time-volume curves were extracted which provided automatically data regarding indexed maximum LAV (LAVImax), indexed minimum LAV (LAVImin), and LAEF. LAVs and LAEF by 2-dimensional echocardiograhy (2DE) were measured by Simpson's biplane disc summation method. Comparing LAVImax, LAVImin, and LAEF by VVI versus 2DE in the total study population, we found significant correlations: r = 0.94, P < 0.0001, r = 0.94, P < 0.0001, r = 0.79, P < 0.0001, respectively. In addition, LAVImax >or= 40 ml/m(2) was 94% sensitive and 72% specific, LAVImin >or= 27 ml/m(2) was 90% sensitive and 86% specific, and LAEF < 30% was 80% sensitive and 96% specific for the detection of LV systolic dysfunction. There were highly significant inverse associations of LAVImax and LAVImin to LVEF. LAEF was also significantly related to LV systolic function. When comparing the time required for VVI and 2DE measurements, VVI led to 62% reduction in the measurement time. In conclusion, VVI is a feasible method for the assessment of LAVs and LAEF. It provides close agreement with that measured by conventional 2DE Simpson's biplane method with significant time saved.
我们的研究目的是评估一种新的图像分析技术——速度向量成像（VVI）在评估左心房容积（LAV）和左心房射血分数（LAEF）中的可行性。我们回顾性分析了 71 名男性和 29 名女性（平均年龄 57±19.8 岁）的 100 例经胸超声心动图结果。将患者分为两组：（1）左心室射血分数（LV EF）>50%，（2）LV EF<50%。对于 VVI 法评估左心房指数容积，我们使用心尖四腔观。从 LA 心内膜像素的位移中提取时间-容积曲线，自动提供有关左心房最大指数容积（LAVImax）、左心房最小指数容积（LAVImin）和 LAEF 的数据。二维超声心动图（2DE）测量 LAV 和 LAEF 采用 Simpson 双平面圆盘求和法。在整个研究人群中，比较 VVI 与 2DE 测量的 LAVImax、LAVImin 和 LAEF，我们发现具有显著相关性：r=0.94，P<0.0001，r=0.94，P<0.0001，r=0.79，P<0.0001。此外，LAVImax≥40ml/m2 对左心室收缩功能障碍的检测具有 94%的敏感性和 72%的特异性，LAVImin≥27ml/m2 对左心室收缩功能障碍的检测具有 90%的敏感性和 86%的特异性，LAEF<30%对左心室收缩功能障碍的检测具有 80%的敏感性和 96%的特异性。LAVImax 和 LAVImin 与 LVEF 呈显著负相关。LAEF 也与左心室收缩功能显著相关。比较 VVI 和 2DE 测量所需时间时，VVI 可将测量时间减少 62%。总之，VVI 是一种评估 LAV 和 LAEF 的可行方法。它与传统的 2DE Simpson 双平面法测量结果密切一致，且可显著节省时间。
