Abstract 14561: Intra Left Ventricular Pressure Gradient Obtained by Vector Flow Mapping is Useful to Assess Left Ventricular Suction and Relaxation

Background: Inertia force of late systolic aortic flow (IF) that is generated by good left ventricular (LV) systolic function enhances LV relaxation. We investigated whether the intra-LV pressure gradient (IVPG) during isovolumic relaxation period (IR) obtained using Vector Flow Mapping (VFM) had any relations with IF and LV relaxation parameters obtained invasively. Method: Study subjects were consisted of 74 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization. Conventional color Doppler images were acquired in the apical 3-chamber view using an echo equipment Prosound afla10TM (Hitachi-Aloka). We obtained the IVPG-IR using an echo image analyzer (DAS-RS1TM). From the data set of the blood flow velocity vectors, IVPG-IR was computed as shown (Figure). Cardiac catheterization was also performed on the same day. LV pressure (LVP) was obtained using a catheter-tipped micromanometer. First derivative of LVP (dP/dt) and the time constant τ of LVP during IR were computed. From LVP-dP/dt relationships (phase loop), ...