Vibration Analysis of the Human Left Ventricular Posterobasal Wall at the Moment of the First Heart Sound Emission

Abstract

We examined whether human left ventricular (LV) wall vibration at the first heart sound emission (LVvibr) could be a potential source of information about the left ventricular physical properties, as has been demonstrated by experimental forced vibration studies. LV posterobasal wall vibration in 51 subjects characterized by functional murmur (n=13), mitral stenosis (n=8), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM, n=8), ischemic heart disease with old myocardial infarction (n=12) and without prior infarction (n=10), was detected with a miniature intraesophageal vibration sensor. Peak frequency, sharpness and peak power of LVvibr in patients with functional murmur and mitral stenosis were linearly related to the Q-vibration interval. HCM patients showed a higher peak frequency and sharper configuration in the power spectrum. However, differing from previous reports, we found no characteristic difference in configuration of power spectrum in patients with ischemic heart disease. These results suggest that human LVvibr possibly includes information demonstrated by experimental forced vibration analysis. © 1991, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.