Diastolic Dysfunction
Adapted from ASE 2016: Recommendations for the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function by Echocardiography
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Mitral annular calcification (moderate or greater)
  • Mitral stenosis (any) or mitral regurgitation (moderate or greater)
  • Mitral valve repair or prosthetic mitral valve
  • Left bundle branch block or ventricular paced rhythm

Diastole is made off four phases

    1. Isovolumetric relaxation time or IVRT (end of AV flow to rapid early filling)
    2. Passive filling (E-Wave)
    3. Diastasis (end of passive filling, equalization of pressure in LV and LA)
    4. Atrial Contraction (A-wave)
  • We can visualize this with echo using a PW doppler just above the MV leaflets in the Apical 4 Chamber
123Sonography

Diastolic dysfunction: generally caused by impaired LV relaxation, reduced restoring forces, and increased LV thickness

ASE 2016 Diastolic Dysfunction Guidelines

Elevated LV Filling Pressures (pressures in the left ventricle during diastole) without increased volumes is suggestive of diastolic dysfunction. 

    • Though different hemodynamic entities, LVEDP and mean LAP (PCWP as a surrogate) are the most common parameters used to describe the LV filling pressure
    • ASE 2016 Diastolic Dysfunction Guidelines
  • Mitral Inflow PW Doppler (Example)
    • Measure just above mitral valve leaflets in apical four chamber
    • E-wave velocity:
    • A-wave velocity:
    • E/A ratio:
  • Medial Mitral Annulus PW TDI (Example)
    • e’ velocity:
  • TR Systolic Jet Velocity (Example)
    • Parasternal or apical 4 chamber highest velocity CW Doppler of TR jet
  • LA Volume Index (Example)
    • Calculate biplane volumes by measuring LA in apical 4 chamber and apical 2 chamber then index to BSA
  • Grade 1: Impaired relaxation with low to normal filling pressure
  • Grade 2: Moderate increase in filling pressure (Pseudonormalization)
  • Grade 3: Marked elevation in filling pressure
NEJM 2004: Diastolic Heart Failure

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