Preload Independence of Isovolumic Relaxation Flow Propagation Velocity

To evaluate whether isovolumic relaxation flow propagation velocity (IRFPV) is independent of preload alterations, 41 healthy subjects (35 ± 7 years) were included for Doppler examinations at three different positions, i.e., supine, Trendelenburg, and reverse Trendelenburg. A positional difference was detected in the peak velocity of the transmitral early diastolic flow wave (P = 0.012) and the peak velocities of both early (P = 0.004) and late (P = 0.007) diastolic mitral annular velocity waves. In contrast, there was no positional difference in the early diastolic inflow propagation velocity or IRFPV. In conclusion, IRFPV is a preload‐independent Doppler parameter.