An Apex Cardiographic Index "(Peak Da/Dt)/A" for the Assessment of Left Ventricular Function

Comparability and reproducibility of apex cardiogram recorded with six different transducer systems.

“…The highest correlations in the present investigation were found between left ventricular pressure and apex cardiographic 'contractility' indices, using developed pressure or displacement. Discussion Whereas previous authors (Ginn et al, 1967;Gleichmann, 1968;Motomura et al, 1973;Willems, 1973;Denef et al, 1975;Dubel et al, 1975) have tested the reproducibility of the apex cardiogram using the same transducer applied on the same subjects at different time intervals, in the present study we analysed the comparability and reproducibility of the apex cardiogram recorded with 6 different transducer systems.…”

“…An average relative difference of 8 per cent in peak normalised derivative values was found by Motomura et al (1973) in 16 patients, with apex cardiograms recorded at one-or two-week intervals, using the same equipment.…”

“…These findings in the dog obtained under ideal circumstances, however, cannot be transferred to routine patient care. To these results one should compare the 8 and 11 per cent variation figures obtained by Motomura et al (1973) and Denef et al (1975) in human subjects. It has been shown that these figures are no limiting factor in discriminating patient groups with normal and abnormal myocardial function.…”

“…However, few systematic studies have been performed on the reproducibility of the apex cardiogram. In none has the apex cardiogram been recorded with different transducer systems (Ginn et al, 1967;Gleichmann, 1968;Motomura et al, 1973;Willems, 1973;Denef et al, 1975;Dubel et al, 1975).…”