Echocardiographic strain imaging, also known as deformation imaging, has been developed as a means to objectively quantify regional myocardial function. First introduced as post-processing of tissue Doppler imaging velocity converted to strain and strain rate, strain imaging has more recently also been derived from digital speckle tracking analysis. Strain imaging has been used to gain greater ...

Left ventricular (LV) function is normally improved after renal transplant; however, cardiovascular mortality remains elevated. Moderate physical activity has a positive impact on myocardial function; however, few data are available about the role of 2D echocardiography (2DE) and 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) on renal transplant recipients (RTR). From a large cohort of RTR submit...

UNLABELLED SummaryWe present the case of a 26-year-old male with acute tonsillitis who was referred for coronary angiography because of chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and biphasic T waves. The patient had no cardiovascular risk factors. Echocardiography showed no wall motion abnormalities and no pericardial effusion. 2D speckle tracking revealed distinct decreased regional peak longit...

UNLABELLED Ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) is an established adverse prognostic factor after myocardial infarction (MI). Functional ischemic mitral regurgitation in acute phase of MI remains under-investigated due to its often transient and dynamic nature. We aimed to assess left ventricular (LV) mechanics by speckle-tracking echocardiography in acute inferoposterior MI and ischemic mitral r...

Background. Transthoracic ultrasonography of the heart is valuable in monitoring and treatment of critically ill patients. Speckle tracking ultrasound (STU) has proven valid in estimating left ventricular systolic deformation. The aims of the study were to compare conventional and automated STU and to determine whether left ventricular systolic deformation could be estimated from one single ima...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is a main determinant of LA remodeling and development of atrial fibrillation. However, non-invasive prediction of LA fibrosis is challenging. We investigated whether preoperative LA strain as measured by speckle tracking echocardiography could predict the degree of LA fibrosis and LA reverse remodeling after mitral valve (MV) surgery. SUBJE...

AIMS This study is the first to directly compare two widely used real-time 3D echocardiography (RT3DE) methods of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and assess their reproducibility in experienced and less experienced observers. METHODS Consecutive patients planned for CMR underwent RT3DE within 8 h of CMR with Philips (volumetric method) and Toshiba Artida (speckle tracking method). Le...

We present two approaches to speckle tracking for optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based elastography, one appropriate for small speckle motions and the other for large, rapid speckle motions. Both approaches have certain advantages over traditional cross-correlation based motion algorithms. We apply our algorithms to quantifying the strain response of a mechanically inhomogeneous, bi-layered...

BACKGROUND Left atrial appendage (LAA) dysfunction predisposes patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) to cardioembolic stroke. Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking was reported to be useful for evaluating left atrial (LA) regional function, as well as left ventricular function. However, it remains unclear whether 2D speckle tracking is useful for evaluating LAA dysfunction. Therefore, we inves...

In recent years, concerns have been raised about possible harmful effects of long-term right ventricular (RV) apical pacing. These detrimental effects may be related to changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics during RV apical pacing. As a consequence, alternative RV pacing sites have been proposed, and in selected patients an upgrade from RV to biventricular pacing may be considered. Novel t...