Enddiastolic

Enddiastolic, often written end-diastolic, describes the state of the heart at the end of diastole, just before ventricular systole. The term is commonly used with respect to end-diastolic volume (EDV), the amount of blood in a ventricle after filling, and end-diastolic pressure (EDP), the corresponding intraventricular pressure. It applies to both the left and right ventricles.

During diastole the ventricles relax and fill from the atria. End-diastolic characteristics are determined by venous return, the duration of diastole (which depends on heart rate), atrial contraction, and the mechanical properties of the ventricle and pericardium (compliance and constraint).

Physiologically, EDV largely governs stroke volume through the Frank-Starling mechanism: more filling generally yields a stronger contraction. The end-diastolic pressure reflects preload but is also shaped by ventricular compliance; a stiff or hypertrophied ventricle can have a high EDP for a given EDV, indicating diastolic dysfunction. The relationship between EDV and EDP is described by the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR).

Clinically, EDV and EDP are assessed by imaging and catheterization to evaluate systolic and diastolic function, preload status, and volume status. Abnormally high filling pressures at normal or increased EDV suggest diastolic dysfunction or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, whereas low EDV points to reduced venous return or hypovolemia. Age and disease can alter ventricular compliance, shifting the end-diastolic curve.