QUANTITATIVE LEFT VENTRICULOGRAPHY - METHODS OF ASSESSMENT OF THE REGIONAL CONTRACTILITY

To compare different approaches to the quantitative analysis of region al left ventricular (LV) function, six different protocols with variou s long axis definitions, with or without alignment, with radial or hem iaxial segmental definitions were used. Study group consisted of 20 pa tients with single vessel coronary artery disease after Q-wave anterio r myocardial infarction (MI) and 20 patients after Q-wave diaphragmati c MI. Control group consisted of 100 patients. Analytic protocol with the long axis drawn between the apex of the LV and the center of aorti c valve plane, radial coordinate system originating from the midpoint of the long axis and alignment of the long axes in systole and disatol e, was found to be most sensitive and specific for detection of both a nterior and diaphragmatic contraction abnormalities. Original method t o measure both severity and length of the regional contraction abnorma lity is suggested.