High resolution work loops as a means for evaluating regional cardiac function

Regional ischemia in the heart leads to regions of dysfunction. It is therefore important to determine myocardial function in several small areas of the heart. By using computer aided speckle interferometry, we are able to determine changes in regional area. The integral of the left ventricular pressure with respect to the change in regional area has been termed regional stroke work. In isolated rabbit hearts, we have developed a system to determine regional stroke work in regions approximately 1.2 mm², over a region of interest that is approximately 27.5 mm². This technique will now allow for the detection of regional changes in the heart with higher spatial resolution than was previously available.