A new method for measuring stroke volume and ejection fraction in the infarct and non-infarct area

Objective To develop a new method for measuring stroke volume and ejection fraction in the infarct and non infarct area with three dimensional color kinesis(CK) technique.Methods A set of left ventricular two dimensional CK images at end systole were acquired in 20 patients with old myocardial infarction using multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic technique and inputted into a self made three dimensional reconstruction system to reconstruct three dimensional CK images of the entire left ventricle,infarct area and non infarct area.The following parameters were calculated from the three groups of three dimensional CK images: stroke volume,wall segment averaged stroke volume,ejection fraction and wall segment averaged ejection fraction.Results Stroke volume and ejection fraction in the infarct and non infarct area were significantly lower than the corresponding values in the entire left ventricle(P 0.01 ).The wall segment averaged stroke volume and ejection fraction decreased progressively in the order of non infarct area,entire left ventricle and infarct area(P 0.01 ～ 0.05 ).The regional and wall segment averaged stroke volume and ejection fraction were the lowest in the infarct area(P 0.01 ).Conclusions The systolic function in the entire left ventricle,infarct area and non infarct area can be accurately measured with three dimensional CK technique.This new method is of value in assessing left ventricular regional function and myocardial viability as well as in therapeutic decision making and prognostic estimation,and therefore,deserves further investigation.