Doppler echocardiographic assessment of the diastolic properties of the cardiac ventricle in ischaemic heart disease.

The authors offer their experience with diastolic function assessment using Doppler echocardiography in ischaemic heart disease. Information on the diastolic properties of the ventricle is obtained from recordings of the blood flow velocity curve in mitral and tricuspid valve orifices. Doppler echocardiography, allowing to monitor the velocity curve of ventricular filling, represents one of the most modern techniques of examination. Diastolic function is commonly significantly affected by ischaemic heart disease, not only in terms of energy requirements; other factors such as the volume of venous return, extent of ischaemia, its time course, and so on, come into play. Changes in myocardial rigidity and filling pressures are two factors which exert a substantial effect on the character of inflow curves. The article describes typical recordings obtained from individual clinical manifestations of acute and chronic states in ischaemic heart disease, and reviews the still limited body of data regarding the effect of drug and/or surgical therapy on the diastolic properties of the affected ventricle.