Myocardial work is a novel, less load-dependent imaging method that provides a detailed assessment of left ventricular function by incorporating myocardial strain and arterial blood pressure.
A precise and accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) contractility is of utmost importance in terms of prognosis in most cardiac pathologies. Given the limitations of ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) due to their load dependency, a novel imaging tool called myocardial work (MW) has emerged as a promising method for LV performance evaluation. MW is a novel, less load-dependent method based on computation of myocardial strain-arterial blood pressure curves. This method provides a more detailed assessment of segmental and global LV function incorporating the patient's LV pressure and is derived by brachial artery pressure utilizing an empiric reference curve adjusted to the duration of the isovolumic and ejection phases as determined by echocardiography. The clinical implications of this unique method have been expanding in the last few years, which attest to the robust additive role of MW in routine practice.
Παπαδόπουλος et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Cardiac pathologies. Myocardial work (MW) was evaluated. Myocardial work is a novel, less load-dependent imaging method that provides a detailed assessment of left ventricular function by incorporating myocardial strain and arterial blood pressure.