J Korean Soc Echocardiogr.  1998 Dec;6(2):131-137.

Significance of Left Ventricle Chamber Obliteration in Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

• Im ES
• Kang HS
• Choue CW
• Kim KS
• Song JS
• Bae JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: LV chamber obliteration(COB) during dobutamine stress echocardiography indicates a vigorous inotropic response to dobutamine stress. This may suggest the absence of coronary artery disease, but a small LV cavity may also preclude recognition of wall motion abnormalities.
METHODS
Chamber obliteration was defined by contact of the opposite walls in the apical 4 chamber views during dobutamine stress echocardiography. To detect of chamber obliteration and coronary artery disease, dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed in 132 patients with chest pain. To confirm of coronary artery disease, coronary angiography was performed in 64 patients among 132 patients.
RESULTS
1) Chamber obliteration during dobutamine stress echocardiography occurred in 37 patients(28%) among 132 patients. 2) Chamber obliteration during dobutamine stress echocardiography was more common in patients with hypertension(p<0.05) and left ventricular hypertrophy during baseline echocardiography(p<0.005). 3) Coronary angiography was performed in 64 patients(48 patients without chamber obliteration, 16 patients with chamber obliteration). The sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease was 88% in patients without chamber obliteration, 71% in patients with chamber obliteration. But, the difference of sensitivity of both groups was not significant.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that chamber obliteration during dobutamine stress echocardiography will not affect results of the sensitivity of dobutamine stress echocardiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Keyword

Dobutamine stress echocardiography; Chamber obliteration

MeSH Terms

Chest Pain
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Artery Disease
Diagnosis
Dobutamine*
Echocardiography, Stress*
Heart Ventricles*
Humans
Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular
Dobutamine