Quantitative Analysis of Dobutamine–Atropine Stress Echocardiography by Fractional Area Change

Abstract

Fractional area change of the total left ventricular area is an accurate marker of coronary artery disease and may form a basis for quantitative dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography analysis provided that reproducible endocardial tracings can be obtained.

Intra-coronary administration of cyclosporine limits infarct size, attenuates remodeling and preserves left ventricular function in porcine acute anterior infarction

“…Fractional area change (FAC), end-diastolic area (EDA) and end-systolic area (ESA) were measured at papillary level of left ventricle according to previous description [19,20]. Recordings were stored for off-line two-dimensional image analysis using computer software (Q-lab v6; Philips Medical System).…”

“…The software provided automated contour tracking that automatically traces the endocardial border from the recorded images and calculates LV cavity cross-sectional areas (end-diastolic and end-systolic) and fractional area change. LV fractional area changes were measured from two-dimensional echocardiography and calculated as: 100 × [(end-diastolic area − endsystolic area) / end-diastolic area] [19,20]. Intra-observer and inter-observer variabilities were evaluated in a series of 10 mini-pigs by two observers who examined each mini-pig recordings in a consecutive way.…”