Assessment of Left Atrial Size and Function
INTRODUCTION The left atrium is an oval chamber with thin, muscular walls, located between the aorta and the esophagus. Because of this location, it is easily recognized not only by…
Hypertension and Valvular Heart Disease
INTRODUCTION Hypertension and valve disease are key risk factors for heart failure. Uncontrolled hypertension results in left ventricular (LV) remodeling, often with an increase in LV mass. Valve disease is…
Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Transplantation
INTRODUCTION Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heterogeneous disease of the myocardium that is characterized by left ventricular (LV) or biventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction. In the classification of the World…
Evaluation of Diastolic Function by Color M-Mode Doppler
INTRODUCTION Pulsed-wave Doppler velocities of mitral inflow are the most commonly used indices of diastolic function. Their application is nevertheless limited by their load dependency. Flow propagation (Vp) using Doppler…
Evaluation of Diastolic Function by Two-Dimensional and Doppler Assessment of Left Ventricular Filling Including Pulmonary Venous Flow
INTRODUCTION The cardiac cycle is continuous. The filling of the ventricle (diastole) is followed by ventricular contraction (systole) to provide an adequate cardiac output during both rest and exercise to…
Physical Determinants of Diastolic Flow
INTRODUCTION Comprehensive assessment of ventricular diastolic function is a complex process. Full elucidation generally requires invasive measurements, such as left ventricular (LV) end diastolic pressure, the time constant of isovolumic…
Evaluation of Diastolic Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging
INTRODUCTION Recent advances in image acquisition techniques and scanner hardware have allowed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to become a useful tool in the noninvasive assessment of cardiovascular diseases. In addition…
Pathophysiology of Diastolic Heart Failure: Relaxation and Stiffness
INTRODUCTION Heart failure (HF) can be defined physiologically as an inability of the heart to provide sufficient forward output to meet the perfusion and oxygenation requirements of the tissues while…
General Principles, Clinical Definition, and Epidemiology
INTRODUCTION Heart failure (HF) is defined as the pathological state in which the heart is unable to pump blood at a rate required by the metabolizing tissues or can do…
Evaluation of Diastolic Function by Radionuclide Techniques
INTRODUCTION For over 30 years, in the diagnosis and management of patients with known or suspected heart disease, nuclear cardiology procedures have made extensive use of radioactive tracers that can…
