Clinical Research Directory

Echocardiographic Measurement of Myocardial Work

Echocardiography is recommended for the hemodynamic management of patients with shock. Recently, a new echocardiographic method has been proposed that provides a non-invasive measurement of myocardial work incorporating different components, namely total myocardial work (GWI), constructive myocardial work (GCW), lost myocardial work (GWW) and effective myocardial work (GWE). Echocardiographic measurement of myocardial work takes into account both myocardial deformation and left ventricular afterload (estimated by measuring systolic blood pressure) and, unlike the measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain, could be less dependent on cardiac load conditions, particularly left ventricular afterload. To date, non-invasive measurement of myocardial work has never been validated in critically ill patients, and no study has assessed the effects of different therapies (fluids administration, administration of norepinephrine) on the different components of myocardial work in patients admitted to intensive care unit.