Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of transthoracic pulmonary venous Doppler flow indices after acute myocardial infarction

To examine the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of pulmonary venous flow indices in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Two investigators, blinded to the results of the other examination, each examined 28 clinically stable post infarction patients in sinus rhythm. The two stored digital Doppler recordings from each patient were analysed in a blinded manner by both investigators to obtain the intra- and inter-observer reproducibility including both a new recording and new measurements. The intra- and inter-observer coefficients of variation for the different variables ranged between 5-15% and 8-23% respectively. For some of the indices there was a difference in means between the observers, and the indices were influenced in different degree by a new measurement and new recording. The degree of variability found in this study indicates wide relative limits of agreement, ranging from +/-10% to +/-45%. The reproducibility of pulmonary venous flow indices was only moderate with relatively wide limits of agreement. The reproducibility was, however, comparable to other echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular dimensions and function.