LV Diastolic Function Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, sonographer responsibilities, guideline exclusions, waveform measurement rules, and age-related changes in LV diastolic function.

Diastolic Function

The ability of the ventricle(s) to relax and fill via ventricular relaxation and compliance, which indicates whether ventricular end-diastolic pressure (filling pressure) is normal or increased.

Diastolic Dysfunction

The failure of the ventricle(s) to relax and allow normal filling, which can precede systolic dysfunction and usually results from impaired LV relaxation (with or without reduced restoring forces) and increased LV chamber stiffness.

Strong Evidence of Diastolic Dysfunction

An increased LV diastolic pressure without an increased LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV).

Sonographer's Role in Diastolic Evaluation

To watch for impaired LV relaxation, estimate LV filling pressure, evaluate HR, rhythm, BP, LVEF, and MV disease, and acquire LV volume, wall thickness, Doppler patterns, timing of flow at multiple sites, and LA volume.

Guideline Exclusion Conditions

Conditions in which diastolic guidelines do not apply, including children or patients with AFib, pacing, atrioventricular block, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, or heart transplant.

Waveform Measurement Rule

The rule to watch for 2 or more similar waveforms before acquiring calculations, strictly avoiding measurement of ectopic or abnormal beats that do not look like the rest.

Elderly Diastolic Waveform Changes

Slowing of myocardial relaxation and increased LV stiffness that decrease the $E/A$ ratio and $e'$ wave velocity, causing a normal elderly waveform to resemble mild diastolic dysfunction in a younger patient.

LV Diastolic Function Report Requirements

Documentation that must remark on LV filling pressure, diastolic dysfunction grade, and a comparison with previous studies to detect any change.