Echocardiographic Evaluation of the Diastolic Function and Dysfunction

Assessment and study of the diastolic function should be an integral part of the cardiac function evaluation. At present, echocardiography is the best noninvasive way to study and evaluate the diastolic function and to estimate filling pressures. M-mode, 2D, and Doppler (blood flow, tissue, and color) echocardiographic examinations are all useful in evaluating the diastolic function. The left ventricular diastolic filling encompasses a series of events that are affected by numerous factors such as myocardial relaxation, myocardial compliance, cardiac rhythm, and pericardial compliance.