Why do cardiologists miss diastolic cardiomyopathy?

September 13, 2008

Hi all,

3 days ago I had an appointment with one of the best cardiologists

here in town. It takes half a year to get an appointment, he has

written lots of scientific papers and people from all over the world

visit him for heart operations.

He ran an echocardiogram on me but of course it was normal. I asked

if they have impedance cardiography but he said no.

He also said that my cardiac output is normal but if I have anything

I need to know about it I can email him.

So this is what I'm going to do BUT I need your help first :-)

I read all the Dr. Cheney papers and I know that an echocardiogram is

not useful in measuring Q but I don't know why.

I asked the Prof if my heart fills properly and if it pumps properly

and both times he said yes.

He says it's the most efficient form to diagnose reduced cardiac

output.

So does anyone know the difference between echocardiogram and

impedance cardiography (I know...a small electrical current is passed

through the chest) regarding Q? Why is impedance cardiography better?

He showed me a sonogram picture and told me that they measure the

distance between one heart side and the other before and after

filling and so know how much liters the heart approximately pumps.

Why do we miss Diastolic cardiopathy with the one and not with the

other?

The Prof said: Filling and pumping are normal in me! Dr Cheney says

that with Diastolic cardiopathy the filling is abnormal. Who is

right?

[Moderator: The ex-science teacher here may have an explanation: Impedence is

electical resistance which depends on " normal " body state. Any shift in pH with

change the impedence as well as any inflamation (and type of inflamation), or

alteration in cell chemistry. This means there is a degree of uncertainity about

what you are really measuring! see

the " In theory " and that it is current a research method, not a clinical method.

Patents on it are dated 1998 and 2000.

So one reason, may be it newness, another is that there has not been motiviation

for buying new equipment (like enough billable clients that would benefit from

it)]

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