Fig. 9

Different patterns of longitudinal hemodynamic forces (HDFs) within the left ventricle (LV) cavity. Compared to the normal HDF curve, in the obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) there is a reduction of both systolic and diastolic HDFs, with alterations of systolic and diastolic time indices: the systolic time index (TI, time interval to systolic peak) reduces and the suction TI (interval including late systolic deceleration and early diastolic suction) increases. The duration of the systolic LV impulse also decreases. In the left bundle branch block (LBBB), the amplitude of the longitudinal HDFs is maintained but the asynchronous activation of the LV myocardium generates multiple waves in systole and diastole, due to the uncoordinated contraction and relaxation. In dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) there is a generalized reduction of the longitudinal HDFs. EF: ejection fraction