Two-dimensional echocardiography in experimental coronary stenosis. I. Sensitivity and specificity in detecting transient myocardial dyskinesis: comparison with sonomicrometers.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The sensitivity and specificity of 2-dimensional echocardiography in detecting ischemia-induced transient myocardial dyskinesis. An open-chest dog model of severe coronary stenosis (90% reduction of circumflex coronary artery diameter) and induced ischemia was prepared by acutely raising myocardial O2 requirements with i.v. isoproterenol and acute aortic constriction. The changes observed with echocardiography were compared with those obtained by intramyocardial sonomicrometers placed side by side or in an endocardial-epicardial orientation. Ischemia was defined as systolic wall expansion or thinning on sonomicrometers and 2-dimensional echocardiography. Complete agreement was found between sonomicrometers and 2-dimensional echocardiography in all control tracings and after ischemia was induced; whenever dyskinesis occurred it was seen by both techniques. Although there was qualitative agreement between echocardiographic and sonomicrometric techniques, there were quantitative differences in the assessment of wall thickening. Such differences may be related to malalignment of the sonomicrometers, echocardiographic resolution limitations or other technical factors. 2-Dimensional echocardiography is a sensitive and specific technique for detecting transient myocardial ischemia, and should be useful for demonstrating exercise-induced ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease.