HOME SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES CARDIOSOURCE SEARCH HELP FEEDBACK		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bashore, T. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bashore, T. M.

Afterload reduction in chronic aortic regurgitation

It sure seems like a good idea^_*

Thomas M. Bashore, MD, FACC^,_*

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

View larger version (20K): [in a new window]   Figure 1 The mathematics of the ejection fraction. The normal pressure-volume loop is represented as a box that is confined by a line of contractility and a line of diastolic compliance. The ejection fraction (EF) is simply the width of the box (stroke volume [SV]) divided by the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV). EDV = end-diastolic volume; ESV = end-systolic volume. AC = aortic closure; AO = aortic opening; MC = mitral closure; MO = mitral opening.

View larger version (28K): [in a new window]   Figure 2 The effect of aortic insufficiency (AI). (A) Compares AI to the normal. In AI the pressure-volume "box" is wider due to the volume overload and taller due to the afterload increase. These increase end-systolic (ESV) and end-diastolic (EDV) volumes. The overall ejection fraction (EF) is generally elevated. In (B), as the slope of the line of contractility drops, the ESV has to rise, and the EF has to fall.