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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Placenta accreta: evaluation with color Doppler US, power Doppler US, and MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of transabdominal ultrasound (US), transvaginal US, color Doppler US, power Doppler US, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of placenta accreta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients in the third trimester of pregnancy who were at risk for placenta accreta underwent color Doppler and power Doppler US; 18 patients also underwent MR imaging. Images were interpreted prospectively for signs of accreta by two reviewers. The reviewers' confidence in their diagnosis was graded on a five-point scale. RESULTS: Outcomes at delivery were as follows: normal placenta (n = 11), hysterectomy owing to uncontrollable bleeding (n = 1), and placenta accreta (n = 7). Five cases of lower-uterine-segment placenta accreta were diagnosed with a high level of confidence with vaginal and power Doppler US. In one patient with a posterior placenta who had previously undergone myomectomy, MR imaging enabled the diagnosis of placenta accreta, which was not well depicted at US. CONCLUSION: In patients with a history of uterine scars, vaginal US with power Doppler US performed well in the evaluation of lower-uterine-segment placenta accreta. MR imaging depicts posterior placenta accreta.

Female↗

PubMed2004

The effect of heart rate on color M-mode Doppler flow propagation velocity and continuous-wave Doppler parameters in aortic insufficiency.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The results of previous studies have suggested that an increase in heart rate (HR) may have a beneficial effect on the hemodynamic condition of patients with aortic regurgitation (AR), and reduce AR severity. An increase in HR was shown to cause a significant increase in regurgitant slope and to significantly shorten the pressure half-time (PHT), both of which are considered to be signs of worsening regurgitation. Color M-mode Doppler flow propagation velocity (FPV) was used to assess AR severity, but no data were available regarding the effects of HR on FPV measurement of AR. The study aim was to evaluate the effect of HR on FPV, and to compare FPV and continuous-wave (CW) Doppler parameter (PHT and slope) variations resulting from an increase in HR. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients (28 males, 40 females; mean age 52 +/- 15 years) with AR of various severity were included. Color M-mode Doppler was used in FPV, while CW Doppler was used in PHT and slope measurements. Atropine sulfate was titrated in all patients to achieve at least a 20% increase in HR. The FPV, PHT, slope and regurgitant fraction (RF) of AR were measured before and after the increase in HR. RESULTS: An increase in HR (77.8 +/- 8.9 versus 103 +/- 9.9 bpm; p < 0.001) caused a decrease in color M-mode Doppler FPV (51 +/- 21 versus 44 +/- 19 cm/s), in the PHT of the regurgitant velocity curve (468 +/- 154 versus 411 +/- 128 ms), and in the RF of the AR (30.2 +/- 16.3 versus 26.1 +/- 14%). The slope of the regurgitant velocity was increased (291 +/- 136 versus 358 +/- 122 cm/s2). All of these variations were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: An increase in HR caused a decrease in the FPV and RF of the aortic regurgitation, and both changes were signs of improved regurgitation. FPV appears to be a more valuable parameter than CW Doppler parameters in determining improvements in AR resulting from an increase in HR.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Imaging of coronary arteries and measurement of coronary flow using transesophageal Doppler echocardiography: a comparison with transthoracic Doppler echocardiography].

Recent advances in Doppler echocardiographic techniques, especially using transesophageal approach, enable us to observe coronary arteries and their blood flow. However, the advantages of transesophageal approach in the evaluation of coronary artery are indistinct. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of transesophageal Doppler echocardiography (TED) and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTD) to visualize coronary artery and measure its flow. The study population consisted of 17 healthy subjects and 41 patients with heart diseases (arrhythmia in 2, valvular disease in 10, ischemic heart disease without complete or subtotal obstruction of coronary artery in 22, congenital heart disease in two, cardiomyopathy in four, and infective endocarditis in one). Thirty subjects were examined by TED, and 44 subjects were examined by TTD. Two patients with complete obstruction of the proximal right coronary artery (RCA), who were not included in the above-mentioned subjects, were examined by TED. The results were as follows: 1) The detection rate of coronary arteries by TED and TTD were: left main trunk (LMT); 96.7/86.4%, left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex artery (LCx); 83.3/56.8%, and RCA; 63.3/38.6%, respectively. 2) Visible length from the orifice: LMT to LAD; 22.2/30.8 mm, RCA; 20.4/22.3 mm. 3) The detection rate of coronary flow by pulsed Doppler of the two methods: LMT; 66.8/0%, LAD; 70.0/31.8%, LCx; 6.6/0%. RCA; 26.7/0%. 4) Coronary flow was detected by transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler in 73.3% of LMT, 76.6% of LAD, 6.6% LCx and 43.3% of RCA. 5) RCA flow was not detected by transesophageal two-dimensional Doppler in two patients who had complete obstruction of the proximal RCA although RCA near the orifice was obviously imaged by two-dimensional echocardiography. In conclusion, TED had an advantage over TTD in detecting coronary arteries and their blood flow, but TTD had an advantage over TED as to the visible length of coronary artery. When RCA near the orifice was clearly visualized, the absence of RCA flow by TED implied complete obstruction of the proximal RCA.

Arteries↗

PubMed1990

[The ductus arteriosus in healthy newborn infants studied by continuous Doppler guided by two-dimensional Doppler color echocardiography].

To characterize the ductus arteriosus shunt after birth, 53 normal newborn infants (36-41 weeks gestation), appropriate in size for gestational age, were examined using two dimensional Doppler echocardiography directed continuous Doppler for evidence of patent ductus arteriosus. The infants were examined within six hours of birth, and every six-eight hours thereafter until ductus arteriosus shunt could no longer be detected. In 51/53 infants, an adequate examination was possible and ductus arteriosus was detected in every infant using the standard precordial approach. Using two dimensional Doppler echocardiography a yellow-orange-red jet, sometimes blue in the central area, directed at the lateral wall of the pulmonary artery was recorded; using continuous Doppler a diastolic or continuous spectral flow into the main pulmonary artery was recorded. Ductus arteriosus shunt could no longer be detected in 7 infants 12 hours after birth, in 26 infants 12-24 hours after birth, in 11 infants 24-36 hours after birth, in 5 infants 36-48 hours after birth and in 2 infants 48-60 hours after birth. A diastolic spectral Doppler flow was present in 38 infants and became continuous before duct closure in 27 infants. In 13 infants it was continuous at first examination and until the ductus arteriosus closure. Both diastolic or continuous spectral Doppler flow could present a flat waveform profile, or a protodiastolic or protosystolic peak velocity. The shunt peak velocity increased significantly with the age i.e. (1.5 +/- 0.7 m/sec mean and SD-), at first examination, vs 2.3 +/- 0.6 m/sec at last examination before ductus arteriosus closure (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ductus Arteriosus↗

PubMed1978

Technical aspects of ranged directional doppler: a new doppler method of fetal heart rate monitoring.

A new technique for clarifying the fetal heart Doppler signal (Ranged Directional Doppler) for fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring has been developed. Ranged Directional Doppler enhances the signals of interest and, in addition, permits a separation of the Doppler signals generated by fast-moving structures of the fetal heart either toward or away from the transducer. The separation of the Doppler signals provides increased clarity and reduced baseline clutter. These Doppler signals may approach the fetal scalp ECG in signal-to-noise ratio, and they may provide a signal that allows more accurate external monitoring of long-term and short-term variability patterns of the FHR.

Doppler Effect↗

PubMed1990

The use of two-dimensional Doppler sonography (color Doppler) in the diagnosis of hydranencephaly.

Hydranencephaly, first described by Cruveilhier, may be defined as a rare condition in which the cerebral hemispheres are replaced by membranous sacs filled with cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebral angiography is especially useful in differentiating hydranencephaly and severe hydrocephalus, massive subdural hygromas and alobar holoprosencephaly, but it is no better than other neuroradiological diagnosis methods in the neonate. This report outlines the diagnostic use of two-dimensional Doppler (color Doppler) in a child with hydranencephaly. Color Doppler was performed using an SSA-270A (Toshiba) with a 3.75 MHz phase-array sector scanning probe and no sedation. In this study, color Doppler demonstrated the internal carotid artery in the proximal portion, but the secondary and tertiary branches were not observed. In summary, color Doppler permitted early, easy diagnosis of hydranencephaly. In addition, the use of color Doppler was beneficial in diagnosing other anomalies of the central nervous system in neonates.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1994

Fetal umbilical Doppler in a population of 541 high-risk pregnancies: prediction of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Doppler Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of systematic umbilical Doppler in the assessment of high-risk pregnancies. METHOD: In a prospective multicentre study, a group of high-risk pregnancies (intrauterine growth retardation, hypertension during pregnancy, abnormal obstetric history) was systematically studied by Doppler exploration of the fetal umbilical artery between 28 and 34 weeks. All the details of pregnancy development to the first postnatal days were collected and analysed a posteriori. RESULTS: Three groups were formed according to Doppler results (Index S-D/S) A, index < 90th percentile (n = 458, 84.6%); B, index > or = 90th percentile and diastole over zero (n = 67, 12.4%); C, zero diastole (n = 16, 2.9%). There was a strong correlation between Doppler results and pregnancy development. Group C corresponded to a greatly altered prognosis (hypotrophy, < 3rd percentile in 69%; intrauterine deaths in 9/16). In group B, relative to group A, the prognosis was significantly altered (hypotrophy, 24% versus 6%, P < 0.01; prematurity rate, 25% versus 11%, P < 0.001) but these repercussions were not as severe as in group C. CONCLUSION: In high-risk pregnancies, fetal umbilical artery Doppler study is of interest for prognostic assessment. Normal results should provide temporary reassurance. Abnormal umbilical Doppler indicates that chronic suffering will occur or is onset in at least one-third of cases.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed2006

Left ventricular Tei index in children: comparison of tissue Doppler imaging, pulsed wave Doppler, and M-mode echocardiography normal values.

The Tei index has been found to be useful for analyzing systolic and diastolic global ventricular function in a wide variety of congenital and acquired cardiac abnormalities. However, there are some discrepancies between reports as to the normal values for the Tei index obtained by the different echocardiographic techniques and by different investigators. We conducted a prospective study to determine the normal range of left ventricular Tei index (LVTX) values in a broad sample of children using tissue Doppler imaging, pulsed wave Doppler, and M-mode echocardiography. In all, 289 children with normal echocardiogram findings (age 1 day-18 years, body surface area 0.08-2.4 m(2), heart rate 46-182/min) were studied. The LVTX was calculated by all 3 methods in each patient during a single echocardiographic examination. The normal LVTX values (mean +/- SD) for the 3 techniques were: LVTX-Doppler tissue imaging = 0.38 +/- 0.06; LVTX-pulsed wave Doppler = 0.36 +/- 0.07; and LVTX-M-mode echocardiography = 0.29 +/- 0.08. LVTX-Doppler tissue imaging and LVTX-pulsed wave Doppler values were only slightly but statistically significantly different (P < .05). LVTX-M-mode echocardiography values were consistently and significantly less than those obtained by both of the other two methods (P < .01, respectively). The effects of age, body surface area, and heart rate were not clinically significant. These results are similar but not identical to those from prior studies.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Noninvasive angiography for the diagnosis of vertebral artery disease using Doppler ultrasound (vertebral artery Doppler).

A transoral noninvasive procedure in the oropharynx using local anesthesia was applied to detect flow in the vertebral arteries with a bidirectional continuous-wave Doppler ultrasound system. Common carotid artery compression was used to identify the vertebral artery. Flow direction, amplitude of flow signals, diastolic flow, and reaction of flow on common carotid artery compression served as diagnostic parameters. The procedure was applied in 90 patients of whom 42 underwent angiography. The method has proved to be 82% accurate. It was most reliable in the diagnosis of occlusion or aplasia, subclavian steal and normalcy, and was less reliable in the detection of stenosis or hypoplasia of a vertebral artery. Eleven patients with subclavin steal, five patients with a missing vertebral artery three patients with hypoplasia or stenosis, and 15 patients with normal angiorgraphical findings were correctly diagnosed by Doppler; normal Doppler findings were present in three patients with a mission or stenosed vertebral artery. Those patients (five) with Doppler indications of subclavian steal (one patient), missing vertebral artery (two patients), or stenosis (two patients) had normal angiograms. Application of the Doppler procedure, after 11 subclavin endarterectomies, informed the surgeon immediately about the hemodynamic effect of surgical intervention. Rethrombosis was diagnosed in two patients by postoperative Doppler examination.

Cerebral Angiography↗

PubMed1990

[Carotid dissection. Study of 28 cases. Contribution of Doppler exploration, ultrasonic diagnosis and Doppler color echography].

Carotid dissections often go undetected or are confused with an arteriosclerotic cause; in fact, they rarely require surgical treatment. Twenty-eight extracranial carotid dissections (in 25 patients) without direct cervical traumatism were explored successively by pulsed and duplex Doppler ultrasonography complemented in 10 cases by color Doppler flow imaging and secondarily in all cases by arteriography. Pulsed Doppler (DMS Angiodop 481 with 4 and 8 MHz probes) found severe hemodynamic signs in 93% of cases: 6 occlusions, 11 generally extensive or high tight stenoses and 9 significant slowdowns in carotid and ophthalmic artery circulation. For the same internal carotid artery, duplex Doppler (Ultramark 4 or Sonedap 40 with 5, 7.5 and 10 MHz probes) initially showed 5 occlusions and 2 stenoses (4 with fusiform features), 2 double canal images, 8 internal carotid arteries with tubular features (internal caliber less than or equal to 2 mm) and 2 segmental ectasias. There were only 3 other lesions with arteriosclerotic features, 2 of which were minor. Duplex imaging was thus suggestive in 57% of cases. Color Doppler flow imaging enabled precise visualization of these features, better analysis of occlusions and clear detection of 2 other false canal images. After 2 years of follow-up, Doppler ultrasound showed recanalization in 47% of cases with no anticoagulant complications. These combined ultrasonic explorations would thus appear to be useful for early diagnosis of carotid dissections, for guiding arteriography and for facilitating the monitoring of patients under anticoagulant.

Adult↗

PubMed1982

Diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis by combination of Doppler ultrasound flow examination and strain gauge plethysmography. An alternative to venography only in particular conditions despite improved accuracy of the Doppler method.

Doppler ultrasound flow examination, strain gauge plethysmography and contrast venography were performed in 160 lower limbs of 80 in-patients. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was suspected in 87 limbs. Using measurement of venous stop-flow pressure, the Doppler method hae an overall sensitivity of 83%. By combined use of Doppler and Plethysmography, sensitivity was increased to 96%. Specificity was 62% and 51%, respectively. With a positive and a negative predictive value of 80% and 73%, respectively, the combination of both non-invasive method cannot reliably replace venography in the diagnosis of DTV, although all (40/40) thromboses proximal to or involving the popliteal segment were detected by either Doppler and Plethysmography or both. After exclusion of 14 patients (18%) suffering from conditions known to alter the results of these non-invasive methods, the positive predictive value of abnormal findings in both Doppler and Plethysmography was increased to 94% for suspected limbs, whilst negative predictive value of both negative Doppler and Plethysmography was 90%, allowing the avoidance of venography in these patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Current status of power Doppler and color Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of lymph node lesions.

The use of Power Doppler sonography in nodal diseases provides an improvement of early and noninvasive diagnosis of regional metastatic involvement. By using Power Doppler sonography it is possible to characterize lymph nodes as reactively enlarged, metastases, malignant lymphoma, tuberculosis and to study cervical cysts. The high diagnostic accuracy is based on perfusion-characteristics of these lymph nodes. Reactive lymph nodes show increased central perfusion of the hilum, whereas metastases tend to show increased peripheral perfusion. Affected lymph nodes in patients with by malignant lymphoma are highly perfused in the center but also peripheral. Power Doppler sonography is still not able to discriminate small (<8 mm) nonnecrotic metastasis or micrometastases from reactive lymph nodes. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the current status of power Doppler and Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of lymph nodes.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

PubMed1996

[Doppler and color Doppler ultrasound diagnosis in differentiation of focal liver lesions].

The frequent detection of benign liver lesions during ultrasound routine examination and a possible curative therapy of early detected malignant tumors require a reliable method of differentiation. Conventional gray-scale ultrasound, according to this problem, has been extended by the Duplex technique and color Doppler ultrasound. Measurement of blood flow velocity by Doppler in the center and at the periphery of liver lesions is not reliable enough to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Color Doppler ultrasound possesses some reliable criteria for differentiation. A central spot could be detected in 2 out of 12 hemangiomas, a giant spot in 1 out of 3 giant cavernous hemangiomas. The halo sign without detectable blood flow is considered to be specific for malignancy. We found this sign in 26 out of 81 malignant liver lesions and only in one benign lesion (sensitivity 32%, specificity 97%). The vascularization of focal liver lesions is excellently demonstrated with color Doppler ultrasound. This is very helpful for the diagnosis (e.g. "chaotic blood vessel architecture' in malignant tumors) and for the therapy of focal liver lesions (e.g. follow-up examinations after chemotherapy or chemoembolization). Therefore, application of Duplex and color Doppler ultrasound is highly recommended as a noninvasive diagnostic method of first choice for unknown liver lesions.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1989

The initial clinical evaluation of a transesophageal system with pulsed Doppler, continuous wave Doppler, and color flow imaging based on an annular array technology.

The application of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) offers access to a great deal of important clinical information regarding cardiovascular anatomy and physiology. Two applications which have not been reported and would appear to be of interest are continuous wave Doppler capabilities and the implementation of higher frequency transducers. A TEE system designed at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering in Trondheim, which is based on an annular array technology, offers these capabilities. We evaluated this instrument in the clinical setting in a series of 30 patients to test the probe function in terms of the tissue and flow imaging quality with a 7.5 MHz carrier frequency, and to report on the implementation of a continuous wave Doppler modality in a TEE probe. We found that the annular array method permitted the use of high frequency probes for tissue and flow imaging which resulted in excellent image resolution, and that shifting the carrier frequency of the transducer to a lower frequency permitted the optimization of the Doppler sensitivity. The continuous wave Doppler was used to measure abnormal blood flow velocities in excess of 5.0 m/s, and was particularly useful in the operating room as velocity measurements could be obtained without compromising the sterile field. The results of our evaluation indicate that high imaging frequencies and continuous wave Doppler can be applied by an annular array TEE transducer.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Assessment of normal and abnormal prosthetic mitral valves by Doppler echocardiography. Doppler in prosthetic mitral valves.

Pulsed, continuous-wave, and color Doppler were performed in 165 normal mitral prostheses and 58 patients with prosthetic dysfunction (46 regurgitant and 12 obstructive valves) proved by catheterization and/or surgery. Mean mitral gradient (MG) and pressure half-time (PHT) were determined in all cases. Among normal prostheses, a wide range of both MG and PHT was observed in each type of valve and a considerable overlap between valves of different size. St-Jude's valve had the most optimal hemodynamics. Mild mitral insufficiency was detected in 14% of tissue and 24% of mechanical mitral valves. Repeat studies were performed in 30 patients over a 2.4 years period. Nine patients developed Doppler evidence of new prosthetic dysfunction, while Doppler parameters remained unchanged in 21 patients during the follow-up period. Among malfunctioning valves, Doppler correctly identified all cases of prosthetic obstruction (n = 12), and 42 of 46 regurgitant valves. We conclude that Doppler echocardiography is a very useful technique in both non-invasive assessment and follow-up of normal prosthetic valves in the mitral position and in detecting prosthetic dysfunction, especially when prosthetic obstruction is present.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Evaluation of eccentric aortic regurgitation by color Doppler jet and color Doppler-imaged vena contracta measurements: an animal study of quantified aortic regurgitation.

To evaluate the utility of measurements of the color Doppler jet area, jet length, and width of the color Doppler-imaged vena contracta (the smallest flow diameter in any part of the flow acceleration field) as methods for quantifying aortic regurgitation (AR), eight sheep with surgically induced AR were studied. AR was quantified as peak and mean regurgitant flow rates, regurgitant stroke volumes, and regurgitant fractions as determined with pulmonary and aortic electromagnetic flow probes and flowmeters balanced against each other. Simple linear regression analysis between the maximal color jet areas, jet length, and flowmeter data showed only moderately good correlation (jet area: 0.42 < or = r < or = 0.57, SEE = 2.85 cm2; jet length: 0.42 < or = r < or = 0.59, SEE = 1.23 cm). In contrast, the width of color Doppler-imaged vena contracta was a better indicator of the severity of AR on the basis of the electromagnetic flowmeter methods (0.73 < or = r < or = 0.90, SEE = 0.15 cm). Therefore the color Doppler jet length and jet area methods have limited use for determining AR, whereas the width of the color Doppler-imaged vena contracta can be used for quantifying the severity of AR.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Quantification of ultrasound contrast agent response: comparison of continuous wave Doppler and power Doppler to backscattered radiofrequency data.

Our goal was to compare two quantification methods of ultrasound contrast agents available in clinical practice [continuous wave Doppler intensity (CWDI) and power Doppler intensity (PWDI)] to the reference technique (radio-frequency analysis) with a simple recirculating flow phantom using a renal dialysis cartridge. Measurements were made at different doses of perflenapent emulsion and BR1. Cineloops of power Doppler images were recorded using a clinically available ultrasound unit (HDI 3000). Simultaneously, integrated backscatter (IBS) was measured by analysis of radiofrequency signals, whereas Doppler signal intensity was measured with a continuous wave Doppler device. A linear relationship was found between CWDI and IBS and between PWDI and IBS when R(2) was calculated for each pair of parameters injection-by-injection. Results are summarized by the average R(2) for all injections between CWDI and IBS (BR1: R(2) = 0.93 +/- 0.05, perflenapent emulsion: R(2) = 0.94 +/- 0.03) and between PWDI and IBS (BR1: R(2) = 0.88 +/- 0.07, perflenapent emulsion: R(2) = 0.79 +/- 0.09). However, for all data obtained from all different injected doses and for both contrast agents, there was considerable variation of CWDI and PWDI values measured for a given value of IBS. In conclusion, for a fixed microbubble population, CWDI and PWDI can be proposed for quantification of USCA. However, their important variations observed at each dose make it difficult to link a single value of PWDI or CWDI or IBS to a single microbubble distribution composition.

Contrast Media↗

PubMed1996

Noninvasive doppler echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular filling pressures in patients with cardiomyopathies: a simultaneous Doppler echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of the mitral flow velocity curves to left ventricular filling pressures in patients with two different types of myocardial problems: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that assessment of Doppler-derived mitral flow velocity curves can be used to predict left ventricular filling pressures in specific disease entities. However, it is unclear whether information derived from specific mitral flow velocity curves obtained from one disease entity can be valid in other disease states. METHODS: The study group consisted of 42 patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (group A) and 55 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (group B); both groups underwent simultaneous cardiac catheterization and were studied by Doppler echocardiography. High fidelity measures of left atrial and left ventricular pressures were obtained simultaneously with mitral flow velocity curves. RESULTS: There was a significant relation between the Doppler echocardiographic variables and mean left atrial pressure in group A patients. The left atrial pressure was directly related to the E/A ratio (r = 0.49, p = 0.004) and inversely related to the deceleration time (r = 0.73, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the deceleration time, < 180 m/s, which indicated a mean left atrial pressure > or = 20 mm Hg, were both 100%. In group B patients, there was no significant relation between mean left atrial pressure and deceleration time. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler echocardiographic mitral flow velocity curves are useful in predicting and estimating left ventricular filling pressures in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. However, because of the complexity of the multiple interrelated factors that determine diastolic filling of the left ventricle, these flow velocity curves cannot be used in patients with other disease entities, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Future studies of different disease states are necessary to fully understand the role of Doppler echocardiography in the assessment of diastolic filling.

Adult↗