[Cross-sectional echocardiography applied to the study of the effects of sodium nitroprusside on left ventricular...

Quantitative measurement of the left ventricular function by means of cross-sectional echocardiography is now well established. The present study suggests that the method could be used to record and assess the effects of vasodilators on the performance of an ischaemic left ventricle. Congestive heart failure was induced in 3 dogs by occluding the anterior interventricular artery, and sodium nitroprusside was injected intravenously. Haemodynamic and echocardiographic data were recorded simultaneously. Using two echotomographic sections at a right angle, changes in left ventricular volume and stroke volume were calculated from the equation V = 5/6 AL, where V is the volume, A the surface and L the length of the ventricle. The application of this non-invasive technique to the analysis of global and regional left ventricular function in various clinical situations is discussed.