Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function.

Invasive measurements of maximum acceleration of aortic blood flow are sensitive indicators of left ventricular function. Doppler echocardiography provides noninvasive measurements of aortic blood flow acceleration. Our studies establish the accuracy of Doppler-derived indices of aortic blood flow velocity for evaluation of left ventricular function. Doppler-derived peak velocity and mean acceleration showed excellent correlation with invasively measured peak left ventricular dP/dt and maximum aortic blood flow (dQ/dt) under varying heart rate, preload, afterload, and inotropic states. Similar correlations were observed between Doppler-derived peak velocity and mean acceleration and invasively measured left ventricular dP/dt and dQ/dt under conditions of varying degrees of myocardial ischemia. Thus, Doppler echocardiography provides an accurate noninvasive method to evaluate left ventricular performance.