Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection. | ||||||||
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Colour M-mode velocity propagation: a glance at intra-ventricular pressure gradients and early diastolic ventricular performance.De Boeck BW, Oh JK, Vandervoort PM, Vierendeels JA, van der Aa RP, Cramer MJ Division of Cardiology, Heart Lung Centre, University Hospital Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Postbus 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. The physiology of early-diastolic filling comprises ventricular performance and fluid dynamical principles. Elastic recoil and myocardial relaxation rate determine left ventricular early diastolic performance. The integrity of left ventricular synchrony and geometry is essential to maintain the effect of their timely action on early diastolic left ventricular filling. These factors not only are prime determinants of left ventricular pressure decay during isovolumic relaxation and immediately after mitral valve opening; they also instigate the generation of a sufficient intra-ventricular pressure gradient, which enhances efficient early diastolic left ventricular filling. Accurate assessment of diastolic (dys)function by non-invasive techniques has important therapeutic and prognostic implications but remains a challenge to the cardiologist. The evaluation of left ventricular relaxation by the standard Doppler echocardiographic parameters is hindered by their preload dependency. The colour M-mode velocity propagation of early diastolic inflow (Vp) correlates with intra-ventricular pressure gradients and is a largely preload independent index of ventricular diastolic performance. In this article, the physiologic background, utility and limitations of this promising new tool for the study of early diastolic filling are reviewed. Published 11 January 2005 in Eur J Heart Fail, 7(1): 19-28.
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