The Left Ventricle: Frequent Imaging in ICU Patients

The study of the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and kinetics is crucial in the emergency department and the ICU. The echographic examination, together with continuous wave Doppler and pulsed wave Doppler assessment of flow, color flow mapping, and tissue Doppler imaging, is able to assess not only morphological data but also standard measures of global systolic function (longitudinal and fractional area change, ejection fraction) and ventricular wall kinetics. Diastolic function can be assessed as well, by studying all the diastolic phases.