A B S T R A C TAim/objectives: Previous work has shown that the electromechanical activation time (EMAT) is prolonged in patients with abnormally low left ventricular (LV) dP/dt. In the present study, we investigated whether EMAT was responsive to rapid changes in LV systolic function induced by abrupt increases in LV preload.
Methods and results:A total of 116 patients were assessed before and after LV angiography with a bolus injection of 40 mL of non-ionic contrast dye. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) increased from 18 ± 7 mmHg to 20 ± 8 mmHg (P < 0.01). In patients with a baseline dP/dt < 1500 mmHg/sec, dP/dt increased from 1098 ± 213 mmHg/sec to 1146 ± 306 mmHg/sec (P = 0.02) and EMAT decreased from 106 ± 29 ms to 103 ± 18 ms (P = 0.02). In patients with a baseline dP/dt ≥ 1500 mmHg/sec, dP/dt decreased from 1894 ± 368 mmHg/sec to 1762 ± 403 mmHg/sec (P = 0.01) and EMAT increased from 88 ± 13 ms to 93 ± 16 ms (P = 0.02). Changes in negative dP/dt were similar to changes in dP/dt.
Conclusion:Electromechanical activation time is a non-invasively measured parameter that allows accurate and rapid detection of changes in LV contractility.