Thoracic Key

INTRODUCTION The critical role of neurohormonal factors in regulating circulation and volume status has been known for over a century. The importance of neurohormonal activation in heart failure pathophysiology was…

INTRODUCTION The mammalian cardiovascular system is designed to provide adequate flow at physiologic pressures both at rest and under a broad range of demands. Since blood flow is pulsatile, changes…

INTRODUCTION Assessment of right ventricular (RV) function is an important component of the comprehensive evaluation of cardiac function in patients with known or suspected heart disease. RV function may be…

INTRODUCTION Heart failure is a clinical syndrome of signs and symptoms resulting from cessation of normal heart function whereby the heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet…

INTRODUCTION According to the American Heart Association, nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, and approximately 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Diastolic heart failure (DHF) contributes…

INTRODUCTION Normal pericardium consists of an outer sac, the fibrous pericardium; and an inner double-layered sac, the serous pericardium. The visceral layer of the serous pericardium, or epicardium, covers the…

INTRODUCTION Exercise intolerance is the primary symptom of chronic diastolic heart failure (DHF). This chapter discusses the fundamental aspects of exercise physiology and the assessment, pathophysiology, and potential treatment of…

INTRODUCTION In diastolic heart failure, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is normal and the dominant functional abnormality resides in diastole. Thus, there is increased passive stiffness with impaired relaxation…

INTRODUCTION Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary autosomal-dominant disorder of the myocardium caused by mutations in several genes encoding cardiac contractile proteins ( Fig. 23-1 ). Histopathologically it is associated…

INTRODUCTION Early Doppler echocardiographic indices of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function have studied the mechanics of left atrial (LA) and ventricular filling. These filling indices have been proven to be…