tardokinesis
Pronunciation: TAR-do-ki-NEE-sis
Delayed onset of myocardial contraction during systole, often indicating conduction abnormalities or ischemia.
Full Definition
Tardokinesis, also known as delayed contraction, refers to myocardial segments that contract with delayed timing during systole rather than synchronously with the rest of the ventricle. This abnormal contraction pattern can result from conduction abnormalities (such as left bundle branch block), ischemia, or mechanical dyssynchrony. Unlike other wall motion abnormalities that affect the magnitude of contraction, tardokinesis specifically refers to temporal displacement of otherwise normal contraction. The delayed segments may appear to contract during early relaxation phase when other segments are already relaxing. Tardokinesis is particularly important in the context of cardiac resynchronization therapy evaluation.
Usage
Usage note: Specifically refers to timing abnormalities, not amplitude; important in dyssynchrony assessment.
In Context
- "Tissue Doppler revealed tardokinesis of the lateral wall, suggesting mechanical dyssynchrony." — Advanced echocardiography report
- "The patient's LBBB was associated with tardokinesis of the lateral and posterior segments." — CRT evaluation report