Regional ejection fraction of the normal left ventricle.

Regional ventricular function is important in assessing the functional significance of muscle fibrosis and ischemia in coronary artery disease. We have investigated three different methods of computerized quantification of the regional left ventricular function in 20 normal subjects. Method 1 divided the left ventricle into eight rectangular regions and corrected for rotatory and translational movement of the heart during systole. Method 2 was similar to Method 1, but corrected for shortening of the long axis of the left ventricle. Method 3 assumed radial inward contraction using a polar system of coordinates after correcting for rotatory and translational movement. The values obtained for the regional ejection fraction and regional volumes were calculated and compared for each region.