VALUE OF DOPPLER-ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FUNCTION

It is now well recognized that a disorder of left ventricular filling can be sufficient to account for congestive heart failure. Furthermore , evaluation of heart disease would not be complete if it did not incl ude assessment of left ventricular filling, improvement of which proba bly ensures better control of the heart disease. An efficient and reli able tool for the study of diastolic function is therefore essential. The authors review the current state of knowledge and the more recent developments in Doppler echocardiograpby in the evaluation of left ven tricular diastolic function. After revising the pathophysiology, the m ethods ct studying ventricular filling are described. The recording te chnique is described, taking into account recent developments in trans thoracic and transoesophageal approaches. This investigation provides parameters allowing semiquantitative estimation of filling pressures ( mean left atrial pressure, enddiastolic pressure) and reliable evaluat ion of overall diastolic performance.