A practical guide to assessment of ventricular diastolic function using Doppler echocardiography.
Doppler assessment of diastolic function has become a standard part of routine echocardiographic examination and imparts information relevant to a patient's functional class, management and prognosis. This review describes the Doppler patterns of diastolic function relative to physical signs and physiology. A continuum of doppler patterns of diastolic function exists, including normal diastolic function, impaired relaxation, pseudonormal filling, restriction, constriction and tamponade. These patterns evolve from one to another in a single individual, with changes in disease evolution, treatment and loading conditions. New applications of continuous wave Doppler, color Doppler M-mode and Doppler tissue imaging are refining our understanding of diastolic function.
Cohen
G I
GI
Sinai Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Detroit, Michigan 48235, USA.
Pietrolungo
J F
JF
Thomas
J D
JD
Klein
A L
AL
D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology