Cross-sectional Echocardiography II. Analysis of Mathematic Models for Quantifying Volume of the Formalin-fixed Left Ventricle H. L. WYATT, PH.D., MING K. HENG, M.D., SAMUEL MEERBAUM, PH.D., PASCAL GUERET, M.D., JOHN HESTENES, PH.D., EUGENE DULA, B.S., AND ELIOT CORDAY, M.D. SUMMARY Cross-sectional echocardiography was used to quantify volume in 21 canine left ventrides that were fixed in formalin and immnersed in mineral oil. Area, length and diameter measurements were obtained from short- and long-axis cross-sectional images of the left ventricle and volume was calculated by seven mathematic models. Calculated volume was then compared, by linear regression and percent error analyses, with fluid volume of the left ventricle, obtained by filling the chamber with a known amount of fluid. Volumes ranged from 13-146 ml. Mathematic models using short-axis area and long-axis length gave higher correlation coefficients (r 0.982 and r = 0.969) and lower mean errors (10-20%) than standard formulas previously used with M-mode echo and angiography. Thus, short-axis area analysis with cross-sectional echocardiography is well-suited for quantifying left ventricular volumes in dogs. = Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 were compared with standard formulas for angiography and M-mode echocardiography. ALTHOUGH several studies1'- have indicated that left ventricular (LV) volume determined by crosssectional echocardiography in patients correlates with angiography, true echocardiographic quantification requires validation against an absolute standard and study of specifically applicable models. Investigation in this laboratory5 has shown that cross-sectional echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular mass in the closed-chest dog correlated well with anatomic LV mass. Particularly good correlations were observed with new mathematic models using short-axis cross-sectional areas of the left ventricle. The application of these echocardiographic models to LV volume quantification was therefore tested in the present study. The plastic casts of ventricular chambers frequently used in angiographic validation studies are not suitable for ultrasonic visualization. In the present study, formalin-fixed canine left ventricles served as a known standard for comparing echocardiographic volume determinations using mathematic models described previously.5 The echocardiographic crosssectional images of the formalin-fixed left ventricle were similar to those available in the left ventricle of the closed-chest dog.5 Several mathematic models were tested, including those requiring multiple shortaxis sections and simplified reconstructions based on double- or single-section images. These new models Methods Cross-sectional echocardiographic studies were performed with an electronic, phased-array sector scanner (Varian Associates, Palo Alto, California) with a real-time, high-resolution, 32-element transducer, an 840 sector angle and a videotape recording rate of 30 frames/sec. The 84° sector angle enables the recording of entire cross sections of the left ventricle, using either short- or long-axis orientations. Twenty-one dogs were killed with an overdose of anesthetic, their hearts removed, and the atria dissected at the atrioventricular grooves. The left ventricles were stuffed with gauze to avoid shrinkage of the chambers and subsequently fixed in formalin for at least 3 days. Formalin-fixed left ventricles were immersed in mineral oil and viewed with the phasedarray sector scanner to obtain left ventricular crosssectional images similar to those described for closedchest dogs.5 Mineral oil was chosen as a medium for this study because of its ready availability and its similarity to castor oil, the standard medium used for calibration procedures. The velocity of ultrasound transmission in mineral oil is about 1.4% higher than in aqueous solutions such as water or blood; however, differences in ultrasound transmission velocity should not affect myocardial boundary delineation measurements with cross-sectional echocardiography. Six to 10 short-axis cross sections were obtained from base to apex by moving the transducer in the mineral oil over the left ventricle. Long-axis cross sections were obtained by rotating the transducer 900. All views were recorded on videotape and played back later for analysis. After the echocardiographic procedures, the left ventricle was removed from the mineral oil, rinsed thoroughly with water, blotted dry with paper towels, and filled to the mitral and aortic valve rings with a known amount of mineral oil from a graduated cylinder. This procedure was performed three times From the Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. Supported in part by grant HL-17651-04 from the NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland; the American Heart Association, Greater Los Angeles Affiliate; Mrs. Anna Bing Arnold; Mrs. Lorena Mayer Nidorf; the Jules Stein Foundation; and the Florence P. Hamilton Foundation, Los Angeles, California. Partial support from NASA 7-100 from the California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory is also acknowledged. Address for correspondence: Dr. Eliot Corday, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Halper Building, Room 301, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90048. Received February 2, 1979; revision accepted December 7, 1979. Circulation 61, No. 6, 1980. 1119 1120 CIRCULATION VOL 61, No 6, JUNE 1980 and an average was obtained for fluid volume of the LV chamber. This fluid volume then provided the known standard for comparison with echocardiographic volume measurement. Anatomic length was measured in all ventricles by inserting a rod through the mitral opening and measuring the distance from the LV apex to the mitral-aortic valve junction. Determination of LV Volume Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 Using cross-sectional echocardiographic images, seven mathematic models were tested by comparing calculated LV volume with true volume. Endocardial outlines were traced from projections of short-axis and long-axis cross sections during videotape stopmotion replay. Linear measurements were obtained from the cross-sectional outlines and areas enclosed within the outlines were derived by planimetry. Twodimensional echocardiographic short-axis images in formalin-fixed canine ventricles are characterized by strong circumferential echoes at the endocardial interfaces (fig. 1). By tracing at the inner border of circumferential echoes, the thickness of the endocardial echo is excluded from endocardial area. This procedure was used to reduce potential errors. LV diameter and long-axis cross-sectional area were also measured from the inner borders of endocardial echoes, taken at appropriate locations. The length of the ventricle was measured in the long-axis section (fig. 2) as the distance from apex to the mitral ring at the base. Seven mathematic models for quantifying LV volume from cross-sectional echocardiographic measurements were described in detail in the previous quantitative study in dogs.5 The same models are used in the present study. Volume formulas and geometric models from which they were derived are illustrated in figures 3A-G, along with the results. In this study, model 1 (Simpson's rule, fig. 3A) used the LV endocardial area (A) of six to 10 short-axis sections from base to apex and LV length (L) from a long-axis section. The height (h) of each short-axis section was determined arbitrarily by dividing length by the number of sections available. Volume was calculated generally by summating the product A.h for all sections. In the previous study in dogs,5 single measurements of left ventricular short-axis diameter and area were obtained from a section at the high papillary muscle level for use in models 2-6 (figs. 3B-F). As a result of formalin-fixation methods in the present study, LV geometry deviated from normal because the LV chamber was constricted toward its base. To avoid this constriction, a short-axis section at the low papillary muscle region, two-thirds of the distance from base to apex, was used for diameter and area measurements (models 2-6). Models 2-4 are represented in figures 3B-D by the formula LVV = K * AL, where K - I for the cylindrical geometry of model 2, K = 2/3 for the ellipsoidal geometry of model 3 and K = 5/6 for the half-cylinder, halfellipsoid geometry of model 4. Model 5 is represented in figure 3E by the formula LVV = ir/6 (D1 D, L); model 6 (fig. 3F) is the standard cube method, LVV = 0 Endocardium m Anterior Lateral B ± Septal Posterior FIGURE 1. A) Polaroid photographs of typical echocardiographic short-axis images from aformalin-fixed ventricle at the low papillary muscle level, two-thirds of the distance from base to apex. B) A diagram of the orientation of this left ventricular echocardiographic short-axis image. Diameters are measured as shown, from septal to lateral (D,) and from anterior to posterior (DJ. The approximate endocardial border is outlined by the broken line. D3, and model 7 (fig. 3G) is the long-axis area-length method, LVV - 0.85 A2/L. Models 5-7 are derived from ellipsoid geometry. Calibration of cross-sectional echocardiographic measurements was performed from scales along the CROSS-SECTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY/Wyatt et al. 1121 tion may occur with changes in gain settings and variation in calibration may also occur over the range of the screen. Calibrations were measured during videotape motion replay to allow better visualization of the scale and then applied to each volume calculation. Data Analysis In 21 formalin-fixed left ventricles, the chamber volume, calculated from seven mathematic models, Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 was compared with the fluid volume of the left ventricle. Linear regression analysis was performed and the standard error of estimate was calculated. For seven models, calculated LV volume on the y-axis was plotted against true LV volume on the x-axis (figs. 3A-G). Percent errors were determined for echocardiographic LV volume vs true LV volume according to the following formula: calculated LV volume - fluid LV volume X 100 fluid volume Mean percent errors were calculated as an average of absolute percent errors for the 21 left ventricles and served to indicate the variability of data about the identity line. Reproducibility of left ventricular shortaxis area and left ventricular long-axis length measurements was assessed by determining percent error from the average of duplicate measurements by two observers (interobserver reproducibility); the mean percent error was then calculated. Echocardiographic length was compared with directly measured anatomic length for the 21 ventricles, using both linear regression and percent error analyses. Endocardium Anterior Apex Base B Posterior FIGURE 2. A) Polaroid photograph of a typical echocardiographic long-axis imagefrom aformalin-fixed left ventricle. B) A diagram of the orientation of this left ventricular echocardiographic long-axis image. Length (L) is measured from apex to base, as indicated. The approximate endocardial border is outlined by the broken line. horizontal and vertical axes of the images. These calibration scales were predetermined in the system used (Varian, Inc.) from precise fixed-distance objects immersed in castor oil and imaged with the echocardiographic system. The calibration, subsequently determined in our laboratory with objects immersed in water, was found to be accurate. The calibration scale was remeasured for each echocardiographic measurement because some varia- Results The results of testing seven mathematic models are illustrated in figures 3A-G. Points are plotted for calculated volume vs fluid volume in 21 left ventricles. From a linear regression analysis of these data, a regression equation, correlation coefficient, standard error of estimate and mean percent error are illustrated for each model. LV volume was 13-146 ml. Excellent correlations were observed for models using short-axis area measurement. The multisection Simpson's rule reconstruction procedure (model 1, fig. 3A) gave the highest correlation coefficient (0.982), the lowest mean percent error (9.6%) and a generally even distribution of points about the identity line, with a regression intercept (0.7) near zero and a slope of one. Models 2, 3 and 4 (figs. 3B-D) are based on one shortaxis section and are derived from the same basic formula: V = kAL, where k = constant, A = short-axis LV length. These model formulas, area and L differing only in a constant, exhibit equally high correlation coefficients (0.969), but different mean percent errors. Of the three, model 4 has the lowest mean percent error (17.9 ± 4.6% [± SEM]), model 3 has the intermediate value (22.4 ± 4.7%) and model 2 has the highest value (31.9 + 4.3%); however, the difference between mean percent errors for models 3 and 4 was VOL 61, No 6, JUNE 1980 CIRCULATION 1122 LVV= 2/3 AL A A1 A2 A3 200 + -TT6 h3 LVV:(AiA2eA3)h+ A2h 2 (Simpson's rule) W re L A a y= 1.00 x - 8.9 r= 0.969 SEE= 8.6 M PE= 22.4 ± 4.7 -200 -J LLI 0 4 0 100 -J W4 o -JA- - 100 AJ Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 y= 1.00x - 0.7 r =0. 982 SEE= 6.6 MPE= 9.6 + 1.9 0 c 100 200 FLUID VOLUME (ml) C) 0 A 100 200 FLUID VOLUME (ml) LVV= 5/6 AL LVV = AL 3j - - - 0 X3 E 200 A A % - W - * * // A 0- 100 -I L {=1.49x- 13.4 = 0.969 C~ 3EE = 12.8 MPE= 31.9 ± 4.3 W -J c.) 200 . 2 _j 4 100 -J y= 1.25x -11.1 r=0.969 SEE= 10.9 MPE = 17.9 + 4.6 C-) 0 B 100 200 FLUID VOLUME (ml) not statistically significant. Model 2 generally overestimates LV volume, model 3 generally underestimates, and model 4 results in a relatively even distribution of points close about the identity line (figs. 3B-D). An excellent correlation coefficient (0.956) was also obtained with model 5 (V = ir/6 [D1 D2 L]), which uses two short-axis diameters in lieu of shortaxis area (fig. 3E). However, if only one short-axis diameter is used and length is assumed to be twice the diameter, as with the M-mode LV volume model 6 (V = D,3 fig. 3F), the correlation coefficient is substantially poorer (0.828). When the angiographic formula of model 7 (V = 0.85 AL'/L, fig. 3G) was tested using 0 D 100 200 FLUID VOLUME (ml) long-axis area (AL) and length (L), a good correlation coefficient resulted (r = 0.903). Only model 1 (Simpson's rule) and model 4 (half-cylinder, half-ellipsoid geometry) showed a generally even distribution of points close about the identity line; models 3, 5 and 7 (ellipsoid geometry) showed a generally underestimated LV volume and model 2 (cylindrical geometry) generally overestimated LV volume. By multiplying the formula of model 3 by 1.25, the ellipsoid figure of model 3 was converted to the halfellipsoid, half-cylinder figure of model 4. Similarly, by multiplying the formulas of models 5, 6 and 7 by 1.25, the ellipsoid figures may be converted to the half- CROSS-SECTIONAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY/Wyatt et al. LVV= r Di E " W Di D2L LVV =.85 A2/ L E 200 3 L A L - 200 DI 0 0 0 J 0 w 1123 a W-4 ^<100 y -0.87x 8.5 r = 0.956 SEE- 8.7 - 0 _i 4 100 y= .58x + 0.25 r= 0.903 SEE =9.5 MPE= 428 + 3.7 -J C.) -J MPE= 31.4 ± 3.4 0 0 Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 E 200 100 FLUID VOLUME (ml) G 100 200 FLUID VOLUME (ml) LVV = D3 11 L=2D D : . F- 200 S W - J 0 W I- y= 1.80x - 28.0 r= 0.837 SEE = 40.4 MPE= 49.9±9.9 100 -J CL) _J 49 CL) 0 F 100 200 FLUID VOLUME (mi) cylinder, half-ellipsoid figure of model 4. Correlation coefficients are not changed by this procedure, but mean percent errors are reduced and the distribution of points about the identity line is improved for models 3, 5 and 7. Interobserver reproducibility was determined for short-axis area, long-axis area and LV length using linear regression and percent error analyses. For short-axis area from 33 sections, the correlation coefficient is 0.993 and the mean percent error is 5.5%. For long-axis area from 15 sections, the correlation coefficient is 0.986 and the mean percent error is 6.6%. For LV length from 15 long-axis sections, the correla- FIGURE 3. Comparison of volume in 21 formalin-fixed canine left ventricles, with cross-sectional echocardiographic quantification on the abscissa vs fluid volume on the ordinate. Geometric models and mathematic formulas are illustrated for the calculation of left ventricular volume (L VV) from cross-sectional echocardiographic images. A = area of either short-axis (panels A-D) or long-axis (panel G) cross section, L = L V length, D = L V diameter. Linear regression analyses were performed with seven models for calculated vs fluid L VV. The identity line is shown. The regression equation is represented by y = mx + b, MPE = mean percent error (see text for formula). A) Serial shortaxis reconstruction by Simpson's rule (model 1). B) Single short-axis area-length method derived from cylindrical geometry (model 2). C) Single short-axis area-length method derived from ellipsoid geometry (model 3). D) Single short-axis area-length method using a half-ellipsoid, half-cylinder geometry (model 4). E) Short-axis diameterlength method using ellipsoid geometry (model 5). F) Shortaxis diameter cube method using ellipsoid geometry (model 6). G) Long-axis area-length method using ellipsoid geometry (model 7). tion coefficient is 0.979 and the mean percent error is 3.0%. A comparison of LV echocardiographic length vs anatomic length in 21 left ventricles shows a 0.912 correlation coefficient and a 7.2% mean error. Discussion With fluid volume of formalin-fixed left ventricles as a standard, LV volume was accurately quantified with cross-sectional echocardiography utilizing mathematic models developed for closed-chest dogs.5 Although previous clinical studies1-4 of LV volume quantification indicate good correlations for crosssectional echocardiography vs cineangiography, both 1124 CIRCULATION Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 techniques involve calculations based on long-axis models of the left ventricle. Preliminary reports of more recent in vitro studies from this6 and other laboratories7' 8 have suggested reliable quantification of LV volume with cross-sectional echocardiography by comparison with directly measured LV fluid volume. The findings of this in vitro study on LV volume were similar to the findings of a recent in vivo study on LV mass by two-dimensional echocardiography in closed-chest dogs.5 Although the strongest correlation was obtained with model 1, excellent correlations were also obtained with models 2-4. Models 1-4 use shortaxis areas of the left ventricle; thus models 1-4, unlike models 5-7, do not require any assumption of shortaxis geometric symmetry because the short-axis area incorporates endocardial irregularities due to trabeculae carnae and papillary muscle invaginations. A very good correlation was also obtained with model 5, but less reliable results were obtained with model 6 (cube method) and model 7 (long-axis area-length method), probably because they require the assumption of geometric symmetry about the short axis. Despite the generally strong correlations of all models, only model 1 (Simpson's rule reconstruction procedure) and model 4 (half-cylinder, half-ellipsoid geometry) resulted in low mean percent errors and a generally even distribution of points about the identity line. Models 3, 5 and 7 (ellipsoid geometry) generally underestimated the LV volume, whereas model 2 (cylindrical geometry) generally overestimated LV volume. The fact that these findings are consistent for studies of both volumes and mass5 of the left ventricle lends credibility to the observation that the geometry of the left ventricle is best represented by a halfcylinder, half-ellipsoid model5 or by a truncated ellipsoid.9 Thus, experimental quantification of LV volumes in dogs might best be performed by either model 1 or model 4, depending upon the nature of the contemplated study. However, the feasibility of applying these models clinically cannot be determined from this study. Correlation coefficients for linear regression analysis were slightly higher for each mathematic model in the present study of LV volume than in the former study of LV mass,5 probably due to the simpler calculation of chamber volume. The only critical discrepancy between in vitro volume and in vivo mass results was the substantial difference between correlation coefficients for model 7, the area-length method (r = 0.903 and 0.744, respectively). The poor correlation for LV mass by this method was probably due to the sometimes incomplete area and length information of in vivo long-axis sections. Although the cross-sectional echocardiographic techniques and models of the present in vitro study were patterned after previous in vivo work,5 obvious differences exist between the two applications. The foremost of these relates to orientation of the transducer with respect to the heart. To obtain shortaxis sections of the in vitro left ventricle, the VOL 61, No 6, JUNE 1980 transducer is moved from base to apex in a plane parallel to the long-axis so that the ultrasonic beams intersect the left ventricle in a plane perpendicular to the long-axis and the myocardial wall of the left ventricle. In contrast, for the closed-chest dog5 or the human being, the exact orientation of the left ventricle with respect to the transducer is not known; short-axis sections are obtained from base to apex both by moving the transducer along the chest wall and by changing the angle of the transducer direction. Perpendicular intersection of the ultrasonic beam with the LV long axis is judged by the circularity of the shortaxis section during late diastole.5 The exact location or exact height for each short-axis section is not known for in vitro or in vivo studies. Cross-sectional images of the formalin-fixed left ventricle are qualitatively different from those of the beating left ventricle,5 but endocardial definition is sharp for both preparations; this subjective judgment is confirmed by the comparable interobserver reproducibility for short-axis area from both studies (mean percent error less than 6%). Qualitative differences in endocardial outlines may result from several factors: 1) in vitro left ventricles are not moving; 2) in vitro endocardial surfaces are smooth after formalin fixation; and 3) the in vitro left ventricle differs further from the beating ventricle in that the shape of the chamber is formed by the gauze sponges instead of by normal blood flow. Thus, the method of filling the chamber with gauze is important in determining its shape. Because of the method used, in vitro ventricular chambers tend to be constricted toward the mitral and aortic valve rings, and the short-axis section at the high papillary level is not representative of the remaining left ventricle. To avoid any constriction toward the base of the left ventricle, a section was chosen arbitrarily at the low papillary muscle level, two-thirds of the distance from base to apex; measurements from this section were then used to compute LV volume with models 2-6. Results of this study should be considered in light of the minor differences in shape and texture of the in vitro vs the in vivo left ventricle. Because of these factors, specific regression equations for LV volume determined from this study should not be applied to the beating heart. Nevertheless, reliability of the mathematic models alone for quantifying LV volume in vitro should also be representative of the canine beating heart. Support for this hypothesis has been demonstrated in a recent preliminary study in this laboratory, some of the results of which were published previously;10 quantification of LV volumes in closed-chest dogs demonstrated very good correlations between crosssectional echocardiography and cineangiography. In summary, results of the present study show that LV volume may be accurately quantified in vitro by cross-sectional echocardiography using seven mathematic models, the best of which use short-axis area analysis. These results support and confirm similar findings of a previous study on LV mass by crosssectional echocardiography in dogs.5 RVPEP/RVET IN VSD/Silverman et al. Acknowledgment We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Olga Diner, the secretarial assistance of Barbara J. Voigt, and the assistance of Lance Laforteza in preparing the illustrations. We thank Jeanne Bloom for her editorial assistance. 5. 6. References Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 1. King DL, Jaffee CC, Schmidt DH, Ellis K: Left ventricular volume determination by cross-sectional cardiac ultrasonography. Radiology 104: 201, 1972 2. Gehrke J, Leeman S, Raphael M, Pridie RB: Noninvasive left ventricular volume determination by two-dimensional echocardiography. Br Heart J 37: 911, 1975 3. Schiller N, Drew D, Acquatella H, Boswell R, Botvinick E, Greenberg B, Carlsson E: Noninvasive biplane quantitation of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction with a real-time two-dimensional echocardiography system. (abstr) Circulation 54 (suppl Il): II-234, 1976 4. Schiller N, Botvinick E, Cogan J, Greenberg B, Acquatella H, Glantz S: Noninvasive methods are reliable predictors of con- 7. 8. 9. 10. 1125 trast angiographic left ventricular volumes. (abstr) Circulation 56 (suppl III): 111-221, 1977 Wyatt HL, Heng MK, Meerbaum S, Hestenes JD, Cobo JM, Davidson RM, Corday E: Cross-sectional echocardiography. I. Analysis of mathematic models for quantifying mass of the left ventricle in dogs. Circulation 59: 1104, 1979 Wyatt HL, Heng MK, Meerbaum S, Davidson R, Corday E: Evaluation of models for quantifying ventricular size by 2dimensional echocardiography. (abstr) Am J Cardiol 41: 369, 1978 Kohn MS, Schapira JW, Beaver WL, Popp RL: In vitro estimation of canine left ventricular volumes by phased array sector scan. (abstr) Clin Res 26: 244A, 1978 Eaton LW, Maughan WL, Shoukas AA, Weiss JL: Accurate volume determination in the isolated ejecting canine left ventricle by two-dimensional echocardiography. Circulation 60: 320, 1979 Geiser EA, Bove KE: Calculation of left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness. Arch Pathol 97: 13, 1974 Gueret P, Lang TW, Wyatt HL, Heng MK, Meerbaum S, Corday E: Validation of cross-sectional echocardiography measurement of left ventricular volumes. Clin Res 27: 172A, 1979 Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypertension by M-mode Echocardiography in Children with Ventricular Septal Defect NORMAN H. SILVERMAN, M.D., A. REBECCA SNIDER, M.D., AND ABRAHAM M. RUDOLPH, M.D. SUMMARY We evaluated the ratio of the right ventricular preejection period to the right ventricular ejection time (RVPEP/RVET) as a predictor of pulmonary hypertension in 16 children with ventricular septal defects (VSD) (group 1). The children ranged in age from 5 months to 18 years. The RVPEP/RVET was measured at the time of cardiac catheterization by M-mode echocardiography from the pulmonary valve echogram and from a simultaneously displayed pulmonary arterial pressure signal obtained with a microtip, manometric catheter. The RVPEP/RVET measured by both methods was comparable (r = 0.91). The RVPEP/RVET was compared with the pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) (r = 0.54). The RVPEP/RVET ratio correlated less well with the pulmonary arterial mean pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. In a second group of 51 children with VSD, echocardiographic measurement of the right ventricular systolic time intervals was performed within 24 hours before cardiac catheterization. The same variables of pulmonary arterial pressure as for group 1 were compared with the RVPEP/RVET ratio, and the results were similar. These data indicate that, although there is a relationship between the RVPEP/RVET and pulmonary hypertension, the ratio alone is not accurate enough to avoid cardiac catheterization in patients considered at risk for pulmonary vascular disease. PERSISTENT ELEVATION of the pulmonary arterial pressure in children with ventricular septal defects may lead to irreversible pulmonary vascular disease.' Currently, the only reliable method for detecting alterations in the pulmonary arterial From the Department of Pediatrics and the Cardiovascular Research Unit, University of California, San Francisco, California. Supported by grant 6-144 from the National Foundation, March of Dimes, White Plains, New York. Address for correspondence: Norman H. Silverman, M.D., 1403HSE, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143. Received October 15, 1979; revision accepted December 12, 1979. Circulation 61, No. 6, 1980. pressure in the course of the disease is through repeated cardiac catheterization. Recently, M-mode echocardiographic measurement of the ratio of the right ventricular preejection period (RVPEP) to the right ventricular ejection time (RVET) has been used to detect pulmonary hypertension. The RVPEP/ RVET ratio has been reported to predict pulmonary arterial hypertension in children with left-to-right shunts2-4 and in infants with pulmonary hypertension complicating noncardiac neonatal problems.5-7 If the ratio of RVPEP/RVET accurately predicted pulmonary arterial hypertension in children with ventricular septal defects, the need for repeated cardiac Cross-sectional echocardiography. II. Analysis of mathematic models for quantifying volume of the formalin-fixed left ventricle. H L Wyatt, M K Heng, S Meerbaum, P Gueret, J Hestenes, E Dula and E Corday Downloaded from http://circ.ahajournals.org/ by guest on September 29, 2016 Circulation. 1980;61:1119-1125 doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.61.6.1119 Circulation is published by the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231 Copyright © 1980 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0009-7322. Online ISSN: 1524-4539 The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the World Wide Web at: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/61/6/1119 Permissions: Requests for permissions to reproduce figures, tables, or portions of articles originally published in Circulation can be obtained via RightsLink, a service of the Copyright Clearance Center, not the Editorial Office. Once the online version of the published article for which permission is being requested is located, click Request Permissions in the middle column of the Web page under Services. Further information about this process is available in the Permissions and Rights Question and Answer document. Reprints: Information about reprints can be found online at: http://www.lww.com/reprints Subscriptions: Information about subscribing to Circulation is online at: http://circ.ahajournals.org//subscriptions/