In 1856, Carl Ludwig first described the intricate interdependence of end-diastolic volume and cardiac stroke volume: “A strong heart that is filled with blood empties itself more or less completely,…
Pericardial diseases are an interesting and diverse group of disorders, and their effects on cardiac physiology are complex and fascinating. A list of the causes of pericardial disease includes nearly…
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a myocardial disorder characterized by the presence of excessive left ventricular thickness in the absence of conditions causing physiologic hypertrophy such as hypertension, valvular aortic stenosis,…
Selective coronary angiography is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the United States. Cardiologists who perform coronary angiography must be capable of promptly recognizing abnormalities in pressure waveforms…
Clinical decisions in patients with aortic valve disease depend on an accurate estimation of the severity of the valve lesion and an understanding of the spectrum of hemodynamic derangements associated…
The proper collection and interpretation of hemodynamic waveforms are important components of cardiac catheterization, yet they are often overshadowed by the more glamorous aspects of cardiology, such as angiography and…
As many as 85% of infants born with congenital heart disease can be expected to survive into adulthood. In the United States, the total number of adults with congenital heart…
Mitral valve disorders are among the most common valvular diseases with an increasing prevalence in the aging population. It is estimated that over 10% of patients over 75 years old…
After Werner Forssmann boldly inserted a urological catheter into his own right atrium, the right heart became accessible to clinical investigation, allowing the study of right heart physiology in both…
DEFINITIONS Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined by the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of >20 mm Hg at rest, which is an update from the previous 25 mm Hg or…
