Intraventricular blood flow velocities and pressure gradients based on transesophageal echocardiography data in assessing correction of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

To analyze surgical correction of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using intraventricular pressure gradients and blood flow velocity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study includes 14 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCM) (mean age 49±7 years). Before and after myectomy, transesophageal echocardiography was performed on the Vivid-E95 device with simultaneous recording of left ventricular pressure and ECG. Imaging data were analyzed by calculating intraventricular blood flow velocity and pressure gradients in Multivox software. Pressure gradient between the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and aorta, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, intraventricular blood flow velocity and pressure gradient from the apex to the basal region were evaluated throughout cardiac cycle. Elimination of myocardial hypertrophy in LVOT normalizes intraventricular pressure gradient between the apex and the outflow tract with disappearance of blood flow turbulence. There is a high correlation (r=0.84) between blood flow velocity and intraventricular pressure gradient.

CONCLUSION

Computer analysis of echocardiographic images provides information about surgical correction of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is based on blood flow velocities and reduction of intraventricular pressure gradient from the apex to the basal region of the left ventricle.