Computerized Quantitative Analysis of Left Ventricular Wall Motion by 2-Dimensional Echocardiography

We present the methods of analysis of left ventricular wall motion by 2-dimensional echocardiography using computerized system. Quantiative analysis of left ventricular wall motion abnormalities depents on the used reference method, because the heart shifts and rotates within thorax during the cardiac cycle.

To access left ventricular wall motion abnormalities, we studied 60 subjects(normal;30 subjects, abnormal;30 subjects)with 5 different floating reference methods correcting for traslation and/or rotation in two echocardiographic views. (apical 4-chamber view and apical 2-chamber view)

In the first the endocardial tracings of enddiastole and endsystole in 30 normal subjects were stored in VAX-11-780 main computer and the data of these 30 normal subjects were plotted to obtain a 95% confidence interval for measured normal fractional change every five degree according to 5 reference methods.

In the second, 30 patients with abnormal left ventricular wall motion analyzed and the results were compared with a 95% confidence interval.

We assessed that left ventricular wall motion by visual and computerized quantitative anlysis were in close relationship according to optimal reference method.

We suggested that computerized quantitative analysis of left ventricular wall motion by 2-dimensional echocardiography was clinically useful method and translation of the midpoint of mitral anulus with rotation according to center of mass was the most specific and sensitive new method of evaluating left ventricular wall motion abnormalities.