[Diastolic heart failure--echocardiographic aspects]

Abstract

Diastolic function of the heart is a complex sequence of multiple interrelated events, and it has been difficult to understand, diagnose and treat the various abnormalities of diastolic filling that occur in patients with heart disease. Doppler is used to examine the different diastolic filling patterns of left ventricle. This concept can be applied clinically to estimate left ventricular filling pressures and to predict prognosis in selected groups of patients. This review presents a simplified approach to understanding the process of diastolic filling of the left ventricle and interpreting the Doppler flow velocity curves as they relate to this process.