Echocardiographic Assessment of Regional and Global Left Ventricular Function Wall-Motion Scoring in Parasternal and...

The aim of the study was to examine the value of echocardiographic wall-motion scoring in apical views as compared to a conventional combination of apical and parasternal views. In 50 consecutive patients referred to coronary arteriography for potential revascularization, echocardiographic digital image loops of the left ventricle (LV) were recorded in parasternal long- and short-axis views and in apical long-axis, two-, and four-chamber views. Eight of 16 standardized LV segments appear both in the apical and in the parasternal views (group 1 segments). The remaining eight segments are visualized in the apical views only (group 2). Using a cross-over design, two cardiologists independently performed regional wall-motion scoring based on apical views, respectively, based on the combination of parasternal and apical views. Using the conventional approach (parasternal and apical views) 98% of the total 800 segments were scored as compared to 95% when using the mere apical approach (P < 0.05); 94% of the 800 segments were scored from both approaches. The regional wall-motion score was identical in 76% of group 1 segments and in 77% of group 2 segments. It diverged, at most, one score in 94% of group 1 segments and in 91% of group 2 segments (P > 0.05). LV ejection fraction (EF) calculated on the basis of average wall-motion score exclusively assessed from the apex differed little from angiographic EF (mean difference 2.0%, 95% confidence limits +/- 6.6%). Intraobserver variability of wall-motion scores (n = 25 patients) was small and almost identical for the two cardiologists. Similarly, interobserver variability was small and identical for apical views and conventional views. We conclude that there is no substantial loss of information when echocardiographic evaluation of regional and global left ventricular function is performed solely from the apical approach.