[Value of end diastolic pulmonary venous flow in the estimation of left ventricular diastolic pressure].

The aim of this study was to analyse the possible relationship between inversion of the end diastolic wave of pulmonary venous flow (Avp) recorded by transoesophageal echocardiography in the left superior pulmonary vein and left ventricular end-diastolic pressures (LVEDP) at cardiac catheterisation. In this series of patients, there was a poor correlation between the E/A ratio of transmitral blood flow and LVEDP. On the other hand, there was a better correlation between LVEDP and the difference of duration of the end diastolic Avp wave and the A wave of mitral flow. An even better correlation was found between LVEDP with respect to the contribution of atrial systole and the difference of duration Avp-A. When the pressure due to atrial contraction exceeds 15 mmHg, the difference between the durations of pulmonary and mitral A waves increases. Therefore, when the duration of the end diastolic Avp is greater than that of the mitral A wave, a LVEDP of over 15 mmHg may be predicted with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 74%.