Cor Vasa 2009, 51(1):25-31 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2009.008

The pitfalls of echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular contraction -asynchrony as related to treatment by biventricular pacing

Jaroslav Meluzín*, Miroslav Novák, Jolana Lipoldová, Eva Ozábalová
I. interní-kardioangiologická klinika, Fakultní nemocnice u sv. Anny a Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno, Česká republika

The aim of the paper is to review the limitations of echocardiographic methods currently employed to demonstrate mechanical left ventricular contraction asynchrony and to identify patients likely to respond to treatment with biventricular pacing. The limitations are serious and may account for the failure of echocardiographic parameters to identify responders to biventricular pacing, as documented in the PROSPECT trial. The paper outlines the complexities of evaluating cardiac contraction asynchrony and discusses the options available for analyzing and assessing it. The authors foresee the use of novel echocardiographic methods and/or parameters (3D echocardiography, "speckle tracking" echocardiography or others) combined with evaluation of results of magnetic resonance imaging (amount of fibrous tissue) and coronary angiography (exclusion of significant stenosis resulting in ischemia).

Keywords: Biventricular pacing; Asynchrony; Echocardiography

Published: January 1, 2009  Show citation

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Meluzín J, Novák M, Lipoldová J, Ozábalová E. The pitfalls of echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular contraction -asynchrony as related to treatment by biventricular pacing. Cor Vasa. 2009;51(1):25-31. doi: 10.33678/cor.2009.008.
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