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Lars-Ake Brodin

Publications and source records attributed to Lars-Ake Brodin.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Tissue motion imaging of the left ventricle--quantification of myocardial strain, velocity, acceleration and displacement in a single image.

AIMS: Several methods of parametric imaging of left ventricular function including tissue velocity imaging (TVI) and strain rate imaging (SRI) have previously been presented, however, they have the limitation that they can, respectively, portray only one physiological myocardial parameter. The aims of this pilot study were to implement and validate tissue motion imaging (TMI) for the first time, a visualization technique which permits acceleration, velocity, displacement and strain to be interpreted quantitatively or semi-quantitatively in a single image. METHODS AND RESULTS: TMI is achieved by the color coding of temporal tissue velocity integrals. The principles behind this technique are validated, and case examples demonstrating its use in the clinical setting are provided. Limitations of the method as well as future applications and improvements are discussed. CONCLUSION: As this method allows representation of a multitude of variables and is visually attractive, it may facilitate more widespread use of myocardial quantitation in everyday practice.

Adult↗

Distribution of left ventricular longitudinal peak systolic strain and impact of low frame rate.

The myocardium has complex 3-D motion that is frequently described using ultrasound (US) Doppler techniques that are limited to recording velocities in one dimension only. Studies using 3-D tagged magnetic resonance show that the myocardium has strain components with varying angles throughout the myocardium. Despite this, there seems to be a belief that the left ventricular longitudinal strain distribution should be homogeneous. When measuring myocardial strain, there are several parameters for the clinician to decide on, one of them being recording frame rate. The current study aims to further investigate the alleged homogeneity of the longitudinal myocardial strain distribution and to discover the impact that the frame rate has on these measurements. Myocardial strain was measured in 43 healthy individuals at different frame rates. Analysis of variance results clearly demonstrate that the strain is not uniformly distributed over the wall; there seems to be an increasing strain from apex toward the base. However, subjects exist with different distributions; thus, it is not possible to conclude that certain strain patterns are normal. Reduced frame rate had a highly significant impact on the measured strain results and it is seen that, at low frame rates, the strain values were reduced.

Adult↗

Assessment of the longitudinal and circumferential left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in healthy elderly individuals by tissue-Doppler echocardiography: relationship with heart rate.

Tissue-Doppler echocardiography (TDE) has been introduced to quantify stress echocardiography by means of assessing the left ventricular (LV) segmental myocardial velocities and excursion. The interaction between LV long- and short-axis function during physical exercise has not been elucidated completely. The aim of the present study was to investigate long- and short-axis LV function, as assessed by myocardial velocities and excursions at rest and during exercise and its possible relationship with heart rate in healthy elderly individuals by TDE. Twenty-seven individuals underwent an exercise test in the supine position on a bicycle ergometer. The initial workload was 30 Watts, followed by 20-Watt increments every third minute. Standard echocardiographic images with super-imposed colour TDE were digitized at the end of each step. The following variables were studied in the LV long- and short-axis: myocardial peak systolic velocity (PSV) and excursion, isovolumic contraction and relaxation times, peak velocity at early diastole (E'-wave) and peak velocity at late diastole (A'-wave) and the E'/A' ratio. Increments in myocardial peak systolic velocity and excursion in the LV long-axis were more pronounced during low workloads. The increase in those variables in the short-axis occurred mainly at higher exercise loads. The improvement in LV long- and short-axis functions was closely related to the increase in the heart rate. Shortening of the isovolumic contraction and relaxation times occurred only at the initial stages of exercise. An increase in the long-axis E'/A' ratio occurred during exercise, whereas this ratio was unchanged in the short-axis. In conclusion, during exercise, the LV long- and short-axis functions behave differently, and increases in LV long- and short-axis functions are related to changes in heart rate. Therefore, in the interpretation of echocardiographic findings during exercise stress echocardiography, these facts have to be taken into account.

Aged↗

Electromechanical coupling, uncoupling, and ventricular function in patients with bundle branch block: a tissue-Doppler echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is associated with impaired left ventricular (LV) function and increased morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with structural heart diseases. The mechanisms are poorly understood. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects with isolated LBBB (n=20), right bundle branch block (RBBB, n=20), and controls (C, n=20) were studied with standard two-dimensional (2D), and color-encoded tissue-Doppler echocardiography (TDE). Inter- and intraventricular systolic and diastolic coordination were assessed from the TDE velocity profiles. LV function was assessed by 2D echocardiography, by TDE-derived peak systolic velocities, and the atrioventricular (AV) plane displacement. RESULTS: Subjects with LBBB had longer electromechanical delays and longer isovolumic relaxation times than did the C and RBBB groups (P <0.001). For the LBBB subjects compared with the RBBB and C groups, ejection times were shorter, peak systolic velocities and AV plane displacements were lower, they had larger LV end-systolic volumes and lower LV ejection fraction (all P <0.001), and the atrial contribution to A-V plane displacement was higher (P <0.01). There were no differences in diastolic or filling times among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with LBBB, delayed regional electromechanical coupling and uncoupling leads to generalized intra- and interventricular asynchrony, thereby explaining the depressed regional and global LV functions. Assessment of the electromechanical coupling and uncoupling processes and their consequences on cardiac function in patients with BBB and structural heart diseases may be possible using TDE.

Analysis of Variance↗

Tissue Doppler, a fundamental tool for parametric imaging.

Tissue Doppler has been used for clinical applications since 1989. It has been developed from a pulsed Doppler acquisition tool towards a method where extraction of velocities can be performed from colour-coded images. This has introduced a further development into different forms of parametric images describing different myocardial functions as colour-coded information, like deformation imaging, motion imaging and phase imaging. The technical requirements have been established with temporal requirements of frame rates in acquisition exceeding 100 frames s(-1). The most powerful application of the tissue Doppler technique today is perhaps to quantify the myocardial functional reserve, during stress echocardiography, making the method applicable to diagnose the presence of coronary disease with an accuracy exceeding that of nuclear and other non-invasive techniques. The method has also great potential for future developments with introduction of more regional measuring variables.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Myocardial velocities measured during adenosine, dobutamine and supine bicycle exercise: a tissue Doppler study in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) quantified by tissue Doppler (TVI) have improved the diagnostic capacity of the procedure. Quantification of other stress modalities, e.g. adenosine stress echo (ASE) and exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) are necessary for assessing any pathophysiological differences in different forms of stress. METHODS: Ten healthy individuals underwent ASE, DSE, and ESE during a span of 2-5 days. Left ventricular (LV) apical images at rest and peak stress (max) were postprocessed using TVI on a GE System FiVe equipment. ECG-derived QRS duration (QRSD, ms), heart rate (HR, bpm), TVI-estimated basal systolic velocities (S2V, cm s(-1)), ejection time (S2T, ms) and strain (S, %) were computed off-line and compared. Longitudinal displacement imaging, tissue tracking, was also made. RESULTS: Data for ASE, DSE and ESE during peak stress were (HR: 84 +/- 12***, 142 +/- 19, 137 +/- 27; P<0.001) (QRSD: 92 +/- 18**, 74 +/- 13, 79 +/- 9; P<0.05), (S2T: 307 +/- 34***, 175 +/- 53, 192 +/- 25; P<0.001) and (S%: 26.0 +/- 3.0, 21.2 +/- 7.3, 22.1 +/- 5.1; P = n.s.) respectively. Velocity response, registered in the LV septum at max, was lowest during ASE (7.4 +/- 1.4) highest during DSE (13.0 +/- 2.7; P<0.001 versus ASE) and somewhat intermediate during ESE (11.3 +/- 3.5; P<0.001 versus ASE). In contrast, strain and displacement did not differ. CONCLUSION: ASE evokes significantly less LV systolic response compared with both DSE and ESE. Increased velocity (P<0.05 versus rest) and strain (P>0.05) response at a much lower HR indicates that adenosine has minor effects on contraction presumably secondary to vasodilatation. Powerful chronotropic response to DSE and ESE is probably prerequisite for strong velocity response at the expense of strain and displacement. TVI-assisted stress echocardiography thereby shows different LV systolic response in healthy individuals, depending on stress modality.

Adenosine↗

Effect of angular error on tissue Doppler velocities and strain.

One of the major criticisms of ultrasound Doppler is its angle dependency, that is its ability to measure velocity components directly to or from the transducer only. The present article aims to investigate the impact of this angular error in a clinical setting. Apical two- and four-chamber views were recorded in 43 individuals, and the myocardium was marked by hand in each image. We assume that the main direction of the myocardial velocities is longitudinal and correct for the angular error by backprojecting measured velocities onto the longitudinal direction drawn. Strain was calculated from both corrected and uncorrected velocities in 12 segments for each individual. The results indicate that the difference between strain values calculated from corrected and uncorrected velocities is insignificant in 5 segments and within a decimal range in 11 segments. The biggest difference between measured and corrected strain values was found in the apical segments. Strain is also found to be more robust against angular error than velocities because the difference between corrected and uncorrected values is smaller for strain. Considering that there are multiple sources of noise in ultrasound Doppler measurements, the authors conclude that the angular error has so little impact on longitudinal strain that correction for this error can safely be omitted. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, October 2003)

Adult↗

Splanchnic blood flow and oxygen uptake during cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To measure splanchnic blood flow (SBF) with 2 indicator dilution techniques during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), to compare the results with transesophageal echocardiography Doppler-measured right hepatic vein (RHV) flow, and to study gastric tonometry data in the same patients. DESIGN: Single-arm prospective study. SETTING: University hospital operating room and intensive care unit. PARTICIPANTS: Ten adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: SBF was measured using constant rate infusion of indocyanine green dye and low-dose ethanol from induction of anesthesia until end of hypothermic CPB. The infusion of ethanol was continued, and SBF was measured postoperatively at 2, 3, and 4 hours after CPB. Simultaneously, RHV flow, splanchnic oxygen delivery and uptake, and gastric mucosal pH were calculated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: SBF, RHV flow, and gastric mucosal pH remained unchanged during the study period. SBF measured with indocyanine green was 765 +/- 88 (SEM) mL/min after induction of anesthesia. SBF before CPB measured with ethanol was 985 +/- 218 mL/min. There was no significant difference between the methods. RHV flow was 450 +/- 87 mL/min after induction of anesthesia. There was no correlation between individual values of RHV flow and SBF. Splanchnic oxygen uptake was 52 +/- 7.8 mL/min after induction of anesthesia and decreased to 28 +/- 2.6 mL/min during CPB. Gastric mucosal pH was 7.32 +/- 0.02 after induction of anesthesia and showed no correlation to SBF or to splanchnic oxygen uptake. CONCLUSION: SBF did not decrease during CPB. SBF could be measured with ethanol with reasonable accuracy. Transesophageal echocardiography assessment of RHV flow was not suitable to quantify SBF in the individual patient, but could be used to follow relative changes.

Adult↗