Main focus of this dissertation is the investigation and further characterization of invasive and non-invasive indices of LV function and cardiovascular hemodynamics both in preclinical (Sus scrofa) as well as clinical HF. Following topics were addressed in the current work:
1. The correlation between LV CPO, as clinically relevant index of external LV work, and the conductance catheter-derived LV SW over a wide range of contractility states in experimental acute heart failure in Landrace pigs. 2. The reproducibility and reference values of global LV strain indices assessed via a novel CMR-FT analysis under various inotropic states in Landrace pigs. 3. The impact of indexing CMR-derived LV strain parameters for indirect measures of afterload on their correlation with invasive hemodynamic indices in experimental acute heart failure in Landrace pigs. 4. The impact on LV contractility of a novel, inhalable, cardiac-specific nanocarrier delivering a LTCC-modulating peptide in experimental CHF in mice and Landrace pigs. 5. The assessment of LV hemodynamics with non-invasive and invasive techniques for a structured weaning of CS patients undergoing MVS with the Impella device.