Journal of cardiac failure
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Biventricular (Biv) pacemaker optimization is underused because of time and echo skill required. We evaluated radial artery tonometry during echo-guided Biv optimization of atrioventricular (AV) and interventricular (VV) delays. ⋯ AV and VV optimization by echocardiography produces significant improvement in LV(E-dur) and RA(E-dur). Radial artery tonometry may provide a simple noninvasive method to assist in AV delay optimization.
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Electromechanical activation time (EMAT) is a systolic time interval defined as the time from Q-wave onset to the peak first heart sound. We assessed the correlation between systolic dysfunction and EMAT calculated using computerized acoustic cardiography. ⋯ An abnormal %EMAT was strongly associated with impaired LV contractility but had no association with LV filling pressures. This noninvasive, simple, point-of-care diagnostic test has potential applications when echocardiography cannot be obtained in a timely fashion to assess systolic function.