Noninvasive diagnostic tools such as echocardiography and radionuclide angiography are essential for accurately defining systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in patients with CHF.
Supports echocardiography for LV assessment in CHF; leaves open prospective validation of integration into therapy decisions.
Preview No one has "just CHF" any longer. The increasing sophistication of diagnostic tools has turned a simple diagnosis into a technologic feast. Both systolic and diastolic left ventricular function in patients with CHF can now be accurately defined by using M-mode, two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography and radionuclide angiography. Even if your practice does not include these testing capabilities, knowing how to interpret the results and knowing the diagnostic clues on physical examination enhance your ability to care for any type of patient with CHF.
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Taylor et al. (1993) studied this question.
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