Usefulness of echocardiography and Doppler in the detection of segmental myocardial ischemia.

Echocardiography and Doppler was performed in 20 patients during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of a right coronary artery to evaluate the usefulness of echocardiography and Doppler in the detection of segmental myocardial ischemia. Wall motion analysis was also compared to the occurrence of chest pain in relation to electrocardiographic and hemodynamic changes. Even in the case of small segmental myocardial ischemia, the two-dimensional echocardiographic evaluation of wall motion is superior to all other measured parameters. Contrary to this, the Doppler examination of transmitral flow is not sensitive enough in the detection of such small segmental myocardial ischemia, induced by right coronary artery occlusion.