Evaluation of diastolic function: old and new methods.

: Understanding and evaluation of diastolic function have changed with the development of new diagnosis methods. Careful attention to various aspects of diastolic function can provide valuable clinical information regarding the diagnosis for patient's heart failure, estimation of left ventricular filling pressures, optimal management strategy, and prognosis. With the advent of noninvasive hemodynamic methods, the evaluation of diastolic function can be performed routinely as a part of assessment of cardiac function.