Usefulness of myocardial velocity gradient derived from two-dimensional tissue Doppler imaging as an indicator of regional myocardial contraction independent of translational motion assessed in atrial septal defect.

Independence of myocardial velocity gradient from translational motion of the heart was tested by comparing normal subjects and patients with atrial septal defect. Myocardial velocity gradient obtained from patients fit within the normal range, even though the translation of the left ventricle was exaggerated in patients, demonstrating the translation independence of myocardial velocity gradient in clinical settings.