Estimation of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction by two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography: comparison of short axis imaging and simultaneous radionuclide angiography.

We have compared short axis images of the left ventricle (LV) obtained with transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) to assess LV size and function with those obtained by radionuclide angiography (RNA). Simultaneous TOE and RNA images were attempted in 14 patients and results obtained in 12 patients undergoing repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The area of the LV cavity seen in the short axis images at a mid-papillary muscle level at end-systole (ESA) and end-diastole (EDA) were compared with volumes measured by RNA at end-systole (ESV) and end-diastole (EDV). An area ejection fraction (AEF) calculated from the TOE images (AEF = EDA-ESA/EDA) was compared with the RNA ejection fraction (EF) where EF = EDV-ESV/EDV. Good correlations were found between TOE log EDA and RNA log EDV (r = 0.86), TOE log ESA and RNA log ESV (r = 0.92) and TOE AEF and RNA EF (r = 0.96). This suggests that TOE short axis imaging at a mid-papillary muscle level is generally adequate for monitoring LV function during operation.