Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by Echocardiography

Abstract

The normal cardiac cycle consists of two phases, systole and diastole, which are repeated over time to maintain an adequate cardiac output. The systole has been traditionally regarded as the main capital phase, leaving at diastole as a secondary process and almost forgotten. However, today we know that diastole is a crucial stage in the functioning of the heart. Its dysfunction can lead even in cases with preserved systolic function in heart failure. About half of patients with new diagnoses of heart failure have normal or near normal global ejection fractions. These patients are diagnosed with “diastolic heart failure” or “heart failure with preserved ejection fraction” (Zipes et al., 2011).