Heart failure is a significant public health concern in terms of prevalence, mortality rates, and economic burden. Left ventricular dysfunction or LV dysfunction of the heart is usually followed by congestive heart failure which ultimately leads to a multitude of cardiac disorders thereafter. Hence it’s a priority concern for the healthcare sector, especially in countries like India which have a high proportion of patients afflicted by the disease. Show What is Left Ventricular Dysfunction/LV Dysfunction? The left ventricle is the thickest chamber of the heart which is primarily responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the vital organs of the body. LV dysfunction occurs when the left ventricle is either defective or damaged, thus disrupting healthy . Normal LV function can be disturbed due to several causes. Certain cardiac defects like valvular malformations or diseases block the passage of blood into the body. This compels the left ventricle to work harder and pump blood faster to compensate for the lack of oxygen-rich blood in the body tissues. Over time, the heart muscles become thicker, weaker and the walls stretch to accommodate more blood. This eventually leads to ventricular dysfunction, especially left ventricular dysfunction. Signs and Symptoms of LV Diastolic Dysfunction The term diastolic refers to the heartbeat stage when the cardiac muscles relax, allowing blood to flow in and fill the chambers. LV diastolic dysfunction is the condition in which the relaxation process of the heart is disturbed as the left ventricle has become stiffer than normal. This causes weakening of the heart and subsequent heart failure. Shortness of breath on exertion or when you’re at rest (lying flat) can be a certain sign of advanced heart failure. Indications that you have left ventricular diastolic dysfunction are:
Tests to Diagnose LV Dysfunction To examine the extent of damage due to left ventricular dysfunction, cardiologists prescribe the following tests:
Left Ventricular Dysfunction Treatment Options Medication Patients with mild LV dysfunction can keep heart failure at bay with proper medications. Common prescriptions for left ventricular dysfunction are:
Lifestyle Changes Apart from medicinal treatments, patients should also welcome certain lifestyle changes to help ease complications due to LV dysfunction:
Surgery for severe LV dysfunction In cases of severe LV dysfunction, doctors may prescribe surgical solutions for treatment. Depending on the symptoms and stage of left ventricular dysfunction, there are three such procedures:
FAQs
Life expectancy depends on which stage the LV dysfunction has reached. Patients who avail of diagnosis and treatment at early stages tend to have a better outlook and longer life than those who are diagnosed during later stages. Generally, 50% of patients with left ventricular dysfunction go one to live beyond 5 years after being diagnosed. 2. What are some of the treatment guidelines for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction? LV diastolic dysfunction is not 100% curable but patients can ease their suffering and improve their heart health by consuming the proper dosage of targeted medications, adopting healthy lifestyle changes, and undergoing surgeries if the doctor recommends. 3. Can severe LV dysfunction be cured? There is no cure for severe LV dysfunction that leads to heart failure. Personalized treatment plans prescribed by experienced cardiologists can help improve health conditions and quality of life. 4. How can LV function be restored? Devices called defibrillators are used to restore normal LV function. It sends an electrical pulse or shock through the heart to bring back a regular heartbeat. Left ventricular dysfunction may cause sudden cardiac arrest in which case, defibrillators can restore heart function. Dr. Priyankar Sinha | Senior Consultant – Cardiac Surgery – Adult | Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bommasandra, Bangalore What does it mean if left ventricular systolic function is Hyperdynamic?A hyperdynamic left ventricle (ejection fraction ≥ 70%) seen on stress radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging bears strong association with diastolic dysfunction and is therefore a marker of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in appropriate clinical setting.
What does Hyperdynamic mean on Echo?Hyperdynamic circulation is abnormally increased circulatory volume. Systemic vasodilation and the associated decrease in peripheral vascular resistance results in decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and decreased blood pressure, presenting usually with a collapsing pulse, but sometimes a bounding pulse.
How serious is left ventricular systolic dysfunction?Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is a common and serious complication of myocardial infarction (MI) that leads to greatly increased risks of sudden death and of heart failure. Effective and cost effective treatment is available for such patients that can reduce both morbidity and mortality.
Can stress cause hyperdynamic left ventricle?In addition to cardiac index and ejection fraction determination during stress test as mentioned above, hyperdynamic LV could be determined on tissue level. In fact, we found stress-induced hyperdynamic LV performance in hypertensive individuals using combined tissue Doppler imaging and stress induction [6].
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