The author discusses possibilities of non-invasive assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with ischaemic heart disease, using Doppler echocardiography with visualization of left ventricular diastolic filling. Attention is drawn to the fact that left ventricular filling is a very complicated process which depends not only on the diastolic function of the left ventricle but also on the given haemodynamic state of the patient and on other factors; this must be taken into account when interpreting Doppler filling curves. The author concludes that during gradual development of left ventricular dysfunction non-linear changes occur of the filling flow parameters of the left ventricle and therefore they are not suited for quantitative assessment of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle. The value of Doppler echocardiography for evaluation of the diastolic function of the left ventricle may be above all assessment of early disorders and the non-invasive estimate of high left ventricular filling pressures.

Keywords: Diastole; Echocardiography, Doppler; Humans; Myocardial Ischemia /diagnostic imaging/; Ventricular Function, Left