OBJECTIVETo quantitatively characterize vortex flow in patients with early myocardial ischemia by echocardiography using vector flow mapping (VFM) and explore a new diagnostic index of early myocardial ischemia.

METHODSThis study was conducted among 105 patients with suspected angina pectoris, who were free of a previous cardiac history with a normal ejection fraction. Patients without significant coronary artery stenoses constituted the control group (n=49) and those with significant coronary artery stenoses (n=56) constituted the early myocardial ischemia group. All the patients underwent conventional ultrasonic inspection and VFM. The velocity vector and vorticity were estimated by VFM. The vortex parameters including vortex flow, radius, diameter, area and vortex relative strength index were measured.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found in the vortex parameters including the vortex flow, radius, diameter or area between the two groups (P>0.05), but vortex relative strength index was significantly lower in early myocardial ischemia group (23.68∓11.66 vs 20.20∓6.29, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONVFM is feasible for quantitative evaluation of left ventricular vorticity in healthy individuals and patients with early myocardial ischemia, and the vortex relative strength index may serve as a novel index for the diagnosis of early myocardial ischemia.