A simplified study of trans-mitral Doppler patterns

Table 1 Common variables that affect Doppler patterns.

Technical factors
Image quality
Position of sample volume
Physiological factors
Heart rate
Respiration
Position
Preload
Valsalva maneuver
Age
Pathological causes
Non-cardiac
Obesity
Deconditioning
Chronic obstructive airways disease
Sleep apnoea
Renal failure
Cardiac
See Table 2 and Figure 6

Each of the factors mentioned could confound Doppler interpretation. So these factors should be eliminated or their effects should be factored in. The list is not exhaustive and the non-cardiac causes could also affect cardiac function.

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