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(Circulation. 1968;38:721.)
© 1968 American Heart Association, Inc.

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Study of the Cardiac Arrhythmias by the Ultrasonic Doppler Method

SAMUEL BELLET M.D.¹ JOHN KOSTIS M.D.¹

¹ From the Division of Cardiology, Philadelphia General Hospital, and the Division of Graduate Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Doppler tracing is a sensitive method for depicting movement of the heart wall, valves, and blood flow. This communication reports the authors' experience with the Doppler method in normal persons and patients with various cardiac arrhythmias.

Three main components are recognized in the Doppler tracing: the presystolic component, a; component v_s due to systolic movement of the ventricles; and component v_d corresponding to the movement of ventricles during early diastole. Evidence is presented that component a is due to atrial contraction. This has been substantiated in this study by the simultaneous recording of the Doppler tracing with the electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, apex cardiogram, jugular venous tracing, right atrial pressure tracing, and the inscription of the Doppler tracing frame by frame in the right atrial cineangiocardiogram.

These findings are of interest since they introduce a relatively new method of studying cardiac wall movement, particularly that of the right atrium. In addition, simultaneous recording of the Doppler tracing of the atria with the electrocardiogram may be of help in the diagnosis of certain cardiac arrhythmias.

Key Words: Atrial movement • Ventricular movement

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