title: [Value of the Valsalva maneuver for evaluating systole heart function].
abstract: Many tests and examinations are used for diagnosing heart failure. Their accuracy tends to vary, echocardiography representing the gold standard. The Valsalva maneuver involves an easy-to-perform test for assessing the cardiac ejection fraction. The present study investigated the power of the Valsalva test in patients who received an echocardiography for various indications. A total of 153 patients were examined, some recruited from private practices, some from different hospitals. An echocardiographically measured left-ventricular ejection fraction of 45% was set as the limit value. 30 patients had an ejection fraction of less than 45%, signaling a relevant systolic dysfunction. The sensitivity of the Valsalva test for detecting impaired function was 70% and its specificity 72%. The positive predictive value was 39% and the negative predictive value 90%. This means that when the Valsalva test produces a normal result and the EKG is also normal, the likelihood that the patient has no relevant systolic dysfunction is very great. The Valsalva test is cost-effective, quick and easy to perform and useful for evaluating left-ventricular pump function.
authors.affiliation: Stadtspital Waid. Pietro.Somaini@hausarzt.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Somaini
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deseö
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marko
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steurer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology*; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver / Q000502:physiology*