PRELOAD AND INCIDENT ANGLE INDEPENDENT INDEX OF LEFT-VENTRICULAR CONTRACTILITY DETERMINED BY CONTINUOUS-WAVE DOPPLER-ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Although left ventricular dP/dt(max) can be accurately assessed using Doppler echocardiography, the fact that Doppler-derived dP/dt(max) dep ends both on preload and Doppler incident angle limits its clinical va lue. We investigated the clinical usefulness of Doppler-derived (dP/dt (max))/IP (IP, isovolumic pressure), which is known to be relatively i nsensitive to preload and theoretically independent of the incident an gle in 9 subjects. We conclude that Doppler-derived (dP/dt(max))/IP is relatively insensitive to both the incident angle and preload. In add ition to its noninvasiveness, these unique features makes it very attr active as a clinical index of ventricular contractility.