What is the most appropriate next step to assess diastolic function after an echocardiogram for a patient with suspected heart failure?

To assess diastolic function, the next step after obtaining an echocardiogram is to utilize ECHO-Doppler imaging. This method is specifically designed to evaluate the flow of blood through the heart during diastole, providing critical information about how well the heart fills with blood after each beat. ECHO-Doppler can measure parameters such as the mitral inflow pattern and pulmonary venous flow, which are essential in diagnosing diastolic dysfunction.

ECHO-Doppler imaging is a non-invasive technique that complements the initial echocardiographic assessment and helps quantify diastolic dysfunction through various echocardiographic criteria (e.g., E/A ratio, deceleration time, and tissue Doppler imaging). This makes it the most appropriate choice for further exploring diastolic function in the context of suspected heart failure.

Other techniques, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography, while valuable for other cardiac assessments, are not specific for evaluating diastolic function. They provide more detailed anatomical imaging or function assessment but do not give the same direct insights into diastolic filling patterns as ECHO-Doppler. Left heart catheterization is invasive and typically used for assessing coronary artery disease and left ventricular pressures, rather than specifically