ABSTRACT
Echocardiographically, LV enlargement and decreased systolic function are the major findings in DCM. An M-mode echocardiogram at the ventricular level demonstrates cavity enlargement and decreased fractional shortening (Figures 8.2, 8.3). The relative wall thickness is greatly decreased. Interventricular septal motion is often abnormal because of left bundle branch block (LBBB) or nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay. An M-mode of the mitral valve displays an increased E-point-septal separation (Figure 8.4) and there may be an A-C shoulder indicating an increased LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). In short axis at the level of the aorta and LA, the M-mode demonstrates LA enlargement, reduced anterior motion of the aorta during systole and there may be truncation of the aortic valve motion pattern in systole indicating reduced forward flow.
