Comparison of Measurements of Left Ventricle by Echography and Cineangiography

A comparison of echocardiography with cineangiocardiography in estimating left ventricular dimensions and volumes was undertaken in 43 patients classified into four groups according to the pathophysiology of the left ventricle. There were high correlations between echographic and angiographic ventricular minor axis dimensions, however, when minor axis dimensions were more than 5.0 cm, there were underestimations of minor axis dimensions by echography. From the mean value of long-to-short axis ratio of the left ventricle at end-diastole and end-systole, the following equations were derived for calculating left ventribular volumes from echo dimensions alone: EDV equals 0.837 Dd-3, ESV equals 0.994 Ds-3. That these equations allowed relatively accurate prediction of volumes over a wide range of ventricular sizes was confirmed by comparison with Pombo's formula and Fortuin's formula for calculating left ventricular volume by echo dimensions alone. A comparison of echographic and cineangiographic ejection fraction (EF), relative changes in shortening of internal diameter (delta S), and the mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mean Vcf) was made i; 33 patients with sinus rhythm. There were significant correlations between EF and mean Vcf by echocardiography, except one discordant patient with aortic insufficiency who showed decreased mean Vcg in the face of normal EF, all these results were confirmed by cineangiography. This discrepancy between EF and mean Vcf was ascribed to the prolonged ejection time which characterizes aortic insufficiency.