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Updated: Jan 4, 2026
Echocardiographic Assessment of Cardiac Anatomy and Function in Adult Rats
Published on: December 13, 2019
The left ventricular ejection fraction: new insights into an old parameter
Tanya Dutta1, Daniel M Spevack1, Wilbert S Aronow1
1Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
Insights
Assessing cardiac function is vital. While left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is common, global longitudinal strain offers a more sensitive measure for subtle changes in cardiac contractility, especially in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Accurate cardiac function assessment is crucial for managing complex cardiac diseases.
- Technological advancements enhance precision in cardiac measurements.
- Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a standard metric for cardiac evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review noninvasive modalities for measuring LVEF.
- To analyze the strengths and limitations of each LVEF assessment method.
- To introduce global longitudinal strain as a potentially more sensitive parameter for left ventricular contractility.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on noninvasive cardiac function assessment modalities.
- Comparative analysis of LVEF measurement techniques.
- Discussion of global longitudinal strain as an emerging parameter.
Main Results:
- Various noninvasive methods exist for LVEF assessment, each with distinct advantages and limitations.
- LVEF may be insensitive to subtle changes in left ventricular contractility in certain clinical scenarios.
- Global longitudinal strain shows promise in detecting early reductions in contractility, particularly in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- LVEF remains a cornerstone of cardiac evaluation but has limitations.
- Global longitudinal strain offers a complementary or alternative approach for assessing left ventricular systolic function.
- Global longitudinal strain may be superior for detecting subtle myocardial impairment, such as in cardiotoxicity.
Abstract:
Accurate evaluation of cardiac function has become increasingly important as the treatment of cardiac disease has become more complex. At the same time, technological advances allow greater accuracy and precision in cardiac measurements. Measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been a pillar of cardiac evaluation. Several noninvasive modalities are available to assess LVEF; each has advantages and limitations. This review examines various modalities used to measure LVEF and focuses on the relative strengths and weaknesses of each modality. In some clinical settings, however, LVEF may be too insensitive to convey subtle changes in LV contractility. In certain clinical situations, use of LVEF may be an insufficient measure of left ventricular systolic function. Global longitudinal strain is one such parameter that has shown promise for detecting subtle reductions in left ventricular contractility in subjects with chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
