Two-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of the size, function and shape of the left ventricle in chronic aortic regurgitation: comparison with radionuclide angiography.

To evaluate the usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with significant aortic regurgitation and left ventricular enlargement, left ventricular size and function measurements obtained by a nongeometric technique, gated blood pool radionuclide angiography, were compared with measurements made by several two-dimensional echocardiographic methods in 20 patients. Left ventricular size was best assessed by an apical biplane modified Simpson's rule algorithm obtained by computer-assisted planimetry. For end-diastolic volume, r = 0.95 and standard error of the estimate = 25 ml; for end-systolic volume, r = 0.94 and standard error of the estimate = 16 ml. A newly introduced simplified two-dimensional method obviating the need for planimetry and using multiple axis measurements yielded satisfactory results, although volumes larger than 300 ml were markedly underestimated. Evaluation of volumes from a single minor axis measured directly from two-dimensional images and M-mode tracings obtained under two-dimensional echocardiographic control was inadequate for clinical use. Ejection fraction was correctly assessed by the modified Simpson's rule method as well as by the simplified two-dimensional method (r = 0.81 to 0.83, standard error of the estimate = 7%). However, when methods without planimetry were further simplified, a satisfactory correlation was no longer obtained. The M-mode approach using a corrected cube formula also provided an accurate estimation of ejection fraction, a finding that is attributed to the absence of regional wall motion abnormalities in this group of patients, the ability to locate the M-mode beam more adequately under two-dimensional control and the persistence of an ellipsoidal configuration and a circular cross section in the left ventricular chamber. The data indicate that two-dimensional echocardiography is a valuable approach to the assessment of left ventricular size and function in these patients. Moreover, this approach provides a practical and convenient way of improving M-mode evaluation of function and of determining left ventricular shape, thus permitting adequate selection of geometric algorithms for volume calculations.