Aim: To evaluate the use of left atrioventricular plane displacement as an index of left ventricular systolic function in patients with congestive heart failure.Subject and methods: left atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) was evaluated by echocardiography in the four regions (septal, lateral, anterior and inferior) and the mean value was calculated in 37 patients with a clinical diagnosis of heart failure. They included 23 males and 14 females with mean ages were 52.3 ± 13 years. In order to compare the results 10 healthy volunteers served as a control group.Results: Mean AVPD in control and patients groups were 15.2 ± 1.7 mm and 6.5 ± 1.4 mm respectively with significant reduction in patients compared to controls. AVPD showed significant statistical correlation with ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening.EF could be calculated using mean AVPD by the formula:EF = (5.5 X mean AVPD) - 5.AVPD was compared among heart failure patients with different etiologies, ages, NYHA classification, patients with sinus rhythm or AF and with or without mitral regurgitation in a trial to study different factors which might affect AVPD.Conclusion: AVPD is a very sensitive, easy and rapid echocardiographic index in the assessment of left ventricular function, even in the presence of ventricular asynergy or poor echogenecity. This parameter is closely related to EF and its changes may point out the degree of dysfunction in cases of congestive heart failure.