Let’s discuss the transmitral filling patterns as the severity of diastolic dysfunction progresses. The transmitral pressure gradients are reflective upon the E & A-wave velocities. The waveforms are influenced by the ability of the ventricle to relax and the compliance of the LA to generate a PG to allow rapid filling during diastole.
Last week we discussed how the physiological determinants of diastole play a role in the evaluation method of determining diastolic function. This week, let’s talk about how pathophysiological factors can alter the findings in the presence of diastolic dysfunction.
Diastolic function is a complex process that simply refers to how well the heart performs during diastole, as blood is suctioned from the left atrium (LA) towards the apex of left ventricle (LV) at a low-pressure filling state. When the heart is unable to fill properly, filling pressures increase in order to allow proper filling and keep required cardiac output state. When these filling pressures increase, diastolic dysfunction occurs.
We are breaking down the basics of diastolic dysfunction into easy to understand blogs! Last week we discussed the topic of diastole and the 4 stages that occur during this phase within the cardiac cycle. If you missed it, you can read it here! This week, we are going to go a step further and discuss the physiology in regards to the 4 stages of diastole. We are going to cover:
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