Estimation of left ventricular operating stiffness from Doppler early filling deceleration time in humans

Abstract

Shortened early transmitral deceleration times (EDT) have been qualitatively associated with increased filling pressure and reduced survival in patients with cardiac disease and increased left ventricular operating stiffness (KLV). An equation relating KLV quantitatively to EDT has previously been described in a canine model but not in humans. During several varying hemodynamic conditions, we studied 18 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Transesophageal echocardiographic two-dimensional volumes and Doppler flows were combined with high-fidelity left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) pressures to determine KLV. From digitized Doppler recordings, EDT was measured and compared against ..