Reproducibility of the assessment of myocardial function through tissue Doppler imaging in very low birth weight infants

• Published in: Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2019-06, Vol.36 (6), p.1145-1152
• Main Authors: Méndez‐Abad, Paula, Zafra‐Rodríguez, Pamela, Lubián‐López, Simón, Benavente‐Fernández, Isabel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Doppler tissue imaging; Echocardiography, Doppler - methods; Heart Ventricles - physiopathology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - physiology; Observer Variation; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Tricuspid Valve - physiology; Ventricular Function - physiology; very low birth weight infants
• ISSN: 0742-2822; 1540-8175
• DOI: 10.1111/echo.14348

s Objectives This study aims to analyze the variability between two trained neonatologists when performing consecutive echocardiograms using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and conventional methods in very low birth weight infant (VLBWI). Methods Two serial echocardiograms were performed in 30 VLBWI infants. The echocardiographic parameters analyzed were tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), A′, E′, and S′ waves, and myocardial performance index acquired by TDI (MPI‐TDI) of both ventricles and shortening fraction (SF). The intra‐observer and inter‐observer agreements and the intra‐operator agreement were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative statistical methods. Results The intra‐observer agreement was very good, TAPSE, and TDI‐derived parameters had an intra‐class correlation (ICC) > 0.8. TDI‐derived velocities had a coefficient of variation (COV)