Late-diastolic forward flow in the aorta induced by left atrial contraction

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2000 Sep;13(9):866-8. doi: 10.1067/mje.2000.104820.

Abstract

Late-diastolic forward flow is a well-described phenomenon detectable by Doppler echocardiography in the pulmonary trunk. It is supported by a restrictive right ventricular diastolic function and by a low end-diastolic pulmonary artery pressure. A similar phenomenon for the left ventricle and the aorta has not been described. We report a case of a preterm infant with aortic stenosis and endocardial fibroelastosis, who underwent balloon valvuloplasty. Restrictive left ventricular diastolic filling led to high left atrial pressure (27 mm Hg) and a very pathologic ratio of early-to-late peak velocities (2.6) for an infant of 29 weeks' gestation. In combination with a low diastolic aortic pressure (24 mm Hg) caused by moderate aortic regurgitation after intervention, a late-diastolic forward flow was detectable in the aorta during left atrial contraction with pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aorta / physiopathology*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / complications
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / physiopathology*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / therapy
  • Atrial Function
  • Catheterization
  • Diastole / physiology*
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed*
  • Endocardial Fibroelastosis / complications
  • Endocardial Fibroelastosis / physiopathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Infant, Premature, Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Regional Blood Flow