Detection of coronary artery disease by two-dimensional echocardiography and transesophageal atrial pacing

Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at rest and during rapid transesophageal atrial pacing in 85 patients undergoing coronary arteriography for evaluation of chest pain. Transesophageal atrial pacing was performed with 10 ms pulses of 6 to 27 mA intensity; the rate was progressively increased up to 150 beats/min. Four patients were excluded: two because atrial capture was not achieved and two because of chest discomfort induced during transesophageal atrial pacing. Of the remaining 81 patients, 56 had significant coronary artery disease (greater than or equal to 75% stenosis of at least one major coronary vessel) and 25 had no significant coronary artery disease; 25 of the 56 patients with coronary artery disease had no wall motion abnormalities at rest. The test was considered positive if wall motion abnormalities were detected during pacing. Wall motion abnormalities occurred in 3 of 25 patients without coronary artery disease (specificity 88%) and in 51 of 56 patients with coronary artery disease (sensitivity 91%). Wall motion abnormalities developed in 20 of the 25 patients with coronary artery disease and normal regional wall motion at rest (sensitivity 80%); sensitivity for one, two and three vessel disease was 85% (17 of 20 patients), 94% (15 of 16 patients) and 95% (19 of 20 patients), respectively. In patients without coronary artery disease, wall motion score was 18 at rest and 17.7 +/- 0.9 during pacing (p = NS). In patients with coronary artery disease, wall motion score decreased from 15.2 +/- 3.6 at rest to 11.6 +/- 4.1 during pacing (p less than 0.001). In patients with coronary artery disease and normal regional wall motion at rest, wall motion score decreased from 18 at rest to 14.4 +/- 3.1 during pacing (p less than 0.001). Thus, two-dimensional echocardiography during transesophageal atrial pacing appears both sensitive and specific in detecting patients with coronary artery disease. This new procedure is a feasible and reliable alternative to exercise two-dimensional echocardiography.

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