Diastolic dysfunction in patients with congenital heart disease

As noted in the introduction of this article, a comprehensive evaluation of diastolic function in all known congenital heart defects is not feasible; however, by demonstrating several representative anatomic and genetic abnormalities where diastolic dysfunction may have clinical significance, it is hoped that scaffolding has been established which will provide structure for further study on this intriguing and influential component of function in patients with CHD. Understanding the contribution of diastole to overall ventricular function may be shown to have important implications in the recommendations for timing or potential benefit of surgical intervention. Or, to state differently, if diastolic dysfunction precedes that of systolic, would a rigorous analysis of diastole in the presurgical patient provide a more sensitive algorithm for intervention? The means for noninvasive assessment of diastolic function, primarily by spectral Doppler echocardiography, or using echocardiography in conjunction with other modalities, should allow for a comprehensive accrual of data in this patient population.