The role of end-systolic pressure-volume analysis in clinical assessment of ventricular function

Over the past two decades, the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR) has undergone intensive investigation assessing its role as an index of ventricular contractile function and performance. From this investigation, we have learned that the ESPVR accurately assesses acute changes in contractility and is especially useful in the research setting where cardiac load can be controlled and altered. However, the need to alter load to develop the relationship and the dependence of ESPVR on cardiac mass limits broad clinical usage of the tool.