Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function

J Echocardiogr Vol.6, No.3, 2008 57 The concepts for the assessment of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function were established in the cardiac catheterization laboratory and necessitate the use of high fidelity pressure and conductance catheters. The most recent [1] set of criteria (Figure 1) for diagnosing diastolic heart failure (DHF) include the presence of increased LV filling pressures (mean wedge pressure >12 mmHg, or LV end diastolic pressure >16 mmHg), prolonged time constant of LV relaxation (tau >48 ms), and increased LV stiffness (b >0.27). While the above measurements are determined invasively, a noninvasive approach is feasible and can be of value. This article will discuss the application of echocardiography (Table 1) to drawing conclusions about LV diastolic function.