Abstract
Proper interpretation of the spectral Doppler signal and elucidation of the underlying hemodynamics can at times be problematic due to confounding factors, one of them being a rapid heart rate. In this article, we discuss the use of carotid sinus massage (CSM) in the echocardiography laboratory as a maneuver to reduce the resting heart rate and thus render the transmitral Doppler signal more amenable to analysis. We provide examples of the value of the CSM in the assessment of left ventricular filling pressure.