Color M-mode echocardiography is more reproducible than conventional M-mode echocardiography for septal-to-posterior wall motion delay measurements

Objective: To compare the reproducibility of conventional gray-scale M-mode to color Doppler M-mode assessment of the septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (SPWMD) which is used as a marker of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony. Methods: Forty-two SPWMD datasets were interpreted by two experienced cardiologists and the inter- and intraobserver correlation coefficients were determined. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with severe septal wall motion abnormalities. Results: The correlation coefficients were significantly higher in color Doppler M-mode versus traditional M-mode in all subgroups analyzed. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the color Doppler technique is more reproducible than conventional gray-scale M-mode technique to assess SPWMD. These findings suggest that the color Doppler M-mode may be a superior marker of the SPWMD measurement and predictor of left ventricular (LV) remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy.