Characterization of the Left Ventricular Diastolic Vortex in Healthy Young Adults Using Vector Flow Mapping

Purpose: This study investigated the characteristics of diastolic left ventricular vortex in young healthy subjects using vector flow mapping (VFM).Subjects and Methods: Twenty-eight young healthy adults (16 males, mean age: 22±1 years) were enrolled. Color Doppler loops were acquired for VFM using the apical long-axis view, after which the incidence of left ventricular vortex during diastole and the correlation between the circulation during diastole and echocardiographic parameters were examined.Results and Discussion: During the early diastole, vortices were detected in 28/28 (100.0%) and 23/28 patients (82.1%) on the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets, respectively. A vortex was observed in 19/28 patients (67.9%) during the mid-diastole in the left ventricle, 19/28 patients (67.9%) on the anterior side, and 1/28 patients (3.6%) on the posterior side during atrial contraction. Circulation in the early diastole was significantly higher on the anterior leaflet than on the posterior leaflet (p＜0.001). Circulation on both mitral leaflets was significantly correlated with E wave velocity, E/A, and e′; however, echocardiographic values showed no significant correlation with circulation in the mid-diastole and atrial contraction phase. In young healthy adults, the incidence of diastolic left ventricular vortices varied according to time phase, and early diastolic vortex intensity was associated with left ventricular relaxation.Conclusion: Characteristic findings were found for the diastolic left ventricular vortex observed via VFM in healthy young adults. Vortex analysis may be a novel method for evaluating left ventricular relaxation.