Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure estimation by Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterization: a study at a tertiary level hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool for the non-invasive evaluation of diastolic function. This study aimed to correlate the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Methods: Fifty patients with coronary artery disease (unstable angina, acute and previous myocardial infarction) subjected to diagnostic cardiac catheterization for evaluations were studied during the period of January 2002 to December 2002 in the Department of Cardiology at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results: For the 2D and M mode echocardiographic indices, the ejection fraction was significantly lower and maximal left atrial volume was significantly higher in patients having PCWP ≥18 mm Hg (p