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Heart Failure
Heart Failure is a growing epidemic, and is
responsible for 1 million hospitalizations per year in the United
States alone (information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute, USA). Fortunately many new pharmaceutical therapies and
technologies have been developed to treat this increasing
population.
About 25% of heart failure patients also suffer from left
ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony. The integrated function of
all heart chambers are key determinants of heart failure.
Nonuniformities of mechanical contraction, or dyssynchrony can lead
to inefficient pump performance and energy expenditure in cardiac
patients. Consequently, these patients experience suboptimal
ventricular filling, a reduction in LV dP/dt (rate of rise of
ventricular contractile force or pressure), prolonged duration of
mitral regurgitation, and paradoxical septal wall motion.
Ventricular dyssynchrony has also been associated with increased
mortality in HF.
Acoustic cardiography, a new non-invasive technology, is helping
clinicians better manage their heart failure patients by providing
an innovative diagnostic tool. The technology simultaneously
integrates heart sounds and ECG data to generate multiple parameters
that correlate to established hemodynamic functions. Click
here to learn more about
how acoustic cardiography can help clinicians manage their heart
failure patients.
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