The value of electrocardiographic R-wave changes in exercise testing: Preexercise versus postexercise measurements.

To determine the usefulness of R-wave amplitude changes during exercise testing for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and to understand the discrepancies that have been described in the literature regarding their value, we studied two groups of patients by means of electrocardiographic (EKG) treadmill testing and coronary arteriography. Group I was composed of 149 patients who were studied prospectively. The specificity of R-wave changes measured from preexercise to immediately postexercise (SRV(5)) was 81%, but that of R-wave changes measured from preexercise to peak exercise (URV(5)) was 46%. A group of 156 patients (Group II) evaluated retrospectively showed a high specificity for the SRV(5) (84%) and poor specificity for the URV(5) (39%). The sensitivity of the SRV(5) was 38% in Group I and 42% in Group II. Therefore, if measured during the immediate postexercise period and not at peak exercise, changes in R-wave amplitude may be of value in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease by electrocardiographic exercise testing.

Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction derived from apical two-dimensional echocardiography.

Two-dimensional echocardiographic data in orthogonal apical projections were used to calculate left ventricular ejection fraction and volumes in 18 patients, 10 of whom had asynergy. The left ventricular chamber was modeled as a stack of 20 elliptical discs in order to minimize errors associated with assumptions of regular geometry. Calculations were compared to data from biplane angiography and yielded correlation coefficients of 0.91 for ejection fraction and 0.90 for volumes. The technique significantly underestimated volumes; the average ventricular volume was 161 +/- 23 ml from cineangiography and 104 +/- 25 ml from echocardiography (p < 0.001). Since this technique utilizes the most readily obtained echocardiographic views and allows for variations in ventricular architecture, its potential utility in long-term, serial evaluation of cardiac function appears promising.

Technique for evaluating left ventricular performance with apical two-dimensional echocardiography: Progress report.

A technique of modelling the left ventricle for the purpose of volume determination has been devised. Two-dimensional echocardiographic data from the apical four chamber and two chamber views are used to pattern the ventricle as a stack of elliptical discs. The method has been validated for an array of regular geometric shapes commonly associated with ventricular architecture. The relative advantages of this model are discussed.