Vänsterkammartryck

Vänsterkammartryck refers to the pressure within the left ventricle of the heart. This pressure is a crucial indicator of the heart's ability to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body. It's measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is typically assessed during a cardiac catheterization procedure or through non-invasive methods like echocardiography.

The pressure within the left ventricle fluctuates significantly during the cardiac cycle. During diastole, when the ventricle relaxes, the pressure is low, allowing it to fill with oxygenated blood from the left atrium. During systole, when the ventricle contracts, the pressure rises sharply to overcome the resistance in the aorta and eject blood into the systemic circulation. This systolic pressure is what contributes to the overall blood pressure reading.

Elevated left ventricular pressure can be a sign of various cardiovascular conditions. These include hypertension (high blood pressure), which forces the left ventricle to work harder, leading to hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscle) and increased pressure. Heart valve abnormalities, such as aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve), can also impede blood flow and raise left ventricular pressure. Furthermore, conditions like heart failure can impair the heart's pumping function, resulting in a backlog of blood and increased pressure within the left ventricle. Monitoring left ventricular pressure is therefore vital for diagnosing, managing, and predicting the prognosis of many heart diseases.