[The role of non-invasive methods in the diagnosis of heart failure]

A survey is given on the validity of the non-invasive methods in the diagnostics of the cardiac insufficiency. Thereby the value of the echocardiography is emphasized not only in the etiologic clarification but also in the judgement of the cardiac (ventricular) function, the results of which can give the indication for invasive diagnostics in patients with cardiac insufficiency at stage III and IV NYHA. In the stages I and II NYHA of cardiac insufficiency this question and that one of the estimation of the functional capacity of the body are clarified by the use of tolerance tests. The ventriculography of radionuclides under conditions of exercise allows a far-reaching insight into the cardiac function, such as with the help of the parameter of the left ventricular ejection fraction.