ABSTRACT
Diastolic dysfunction is the predominant etiology in 15-50% of clinically overt congestive cardiac failure (CCF). Diastolic heart failure is characterized by elevated cardiac filling pressures despite preserved ejection fraction. This occurs when diastolic ventricular filling is restricted by impaired ventricular relaxation±compliance, thereby limiting stroke volume and cardiac output. Common causes include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, pericardial constriction and cardiac tamponade. Amongst these, pericardial constriction stands out as being potentially correctable by surgery. Cardiac encasement by a rigid noncompliant pericardium restricts ventricular filling exclusively to during early diastole.
