[Hemodynamic assessement of the subendocardial perfusion (author's transl)]

Due to its purely diastolic perfusion pattern, the subendocardium is particularly sensitive to ischemia. The subendocardial perfusion can be hemodynamically assessed by the subendocardial viability ratio (EVR), ratio of the diastolic pressure-time index to the systolic pressure-time index. EVR may be either calculated in the catheterization laboratory or contimously monitorized in intensive care unit. Contimous EVR monitoring may prove useful in some critical hemodynamic states (cardiogenic shock, cardiac surgery) to asess the effects on subendocardial perfusion of the various proposed therapeutics either pharmacological (catecholamines, vasodilatators) or mechanical (intra-aortic baloon conterpulsation).