Noninvasive Cardiac Diagnosis

Assessment or Ventricular FunctionA number of noninvasive technics have been advocated as reflecting left ventricular performance. These methods include systolic-time intervals, echocardiography and imaging of the left ventricular chamber with radionuclides during systole and diastole.The determination of systolic-time intervals is noninvasive, extremely rapid and simple.106 , 107 A long preejection period with an accompanying short left ventricular ejection time is typically associated with a low ejection fraction and heart failure. In some circumstances, such as edematous states, the intervals have proved helpful in distinguishing the heart failure of cardiomyopathy from constrictive pericarditis.108 The latter condition is usually associated with normal . . .