We describe a protocol to measure vortex formation time, an index of left ventricular filling efficiency, using standard transesophageal echocardiography techniques in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We apply this technique to analyze vortex formation time in several groups of patients with differing cardiac pathologies.
Pagel, P. S., Dye III, L., Hill, G. E., Vega, J. L., Tawil, J. N., De Vry, D. J., Chandrashekarappa, K., Iqbal, Z., Boettcher, B. T., Freed, J. K. Noninvasive Determination of Vortex Formation Time Using Transesophageal Echocardiography During Cardiac Surgery. J. Vis. Exp. (141), e58374, doi:10.3791/58374 (2018).