Echocardiographic Assessment of Diastolic Function

Abstract

The stepwise approach in evaluation of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is essential in any patients with dyspnea on exertion or heart failure. Many of them have normal to near-normal ejection fractions (EFs). These subsets of patients are labeled as diastolic heart failure or heart failure with preserved EF. It is important to differentiate diastolic dysfunction from dyspnea of pulmonary origin for further management and future prognosis. LV filling pressures is usually synonymous with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), mean left atrial pressure (LAP), mean LV diastolic pressure, and LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). PCWP on the other hand is also an indirect estimate of LV diastolic pressures. LVEDP is often elevated in early diastolic dysfunction because of a large atrial pressure wave, while mean PCWP and LAP remain normal. While mean PCWP and LAP increased during tachycardia and where there is increased LV afterload which is the basis for the diastolic stress test. It is essential that certain Doppler variables correlate well with an increase in LVEDP only and not reflecting the increase in either LAP or LVEDP. Therefore, early evaluation of LV filling pressures and LVEDP are more important than mean LA pressure which is elevated later. Echocardiography is the best evaluation tool to evaluate LV diastolic function. The purpose of this article is to provide the simplest stepwise approach of different diastolic parameters which are used as routine protocol with minimal use of the newer modalities at various clinical settings.