Assessing Diastolic Function as an Important Tool for Clinical Decision-making in Critically Ill Patients

Diastolic dysfunction, which is increasingly seen as being influential in precipitating heart failure and determining prognosis, is often unrecognized. In elderly patients with high rates of comorbidities, determining whether symptoms are attributable to cardiac conditions or other coexisting comorbidities can be clinically challenging. Moreover, in hemodynamically unstable patients, real-time decisions regarding fluid status are critically important. With better understanding and assessment of diastolic function, physicians should be in a better position not only to diagnose diastolic dysfunction or heart failure, but also to manage it more effectively. To optimize this approach, assessing diastolic function at the time of hemodynamic compromise or symptomatic deterioration is essential. In this review, clinical implications of assessing left ventricular diastolic function and filling pressures in critically ill patients will be reviewed with case-based discussions to emphasize how information regarding left ventricular diastolic function and filling pressure can be used for correct diagnosis and proper management of these patients.