Tissue velocities, strain, and strain rate for echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function in congenital heart disease.
During the last decade tissue Doppler and myocardial deformation imaging has been introduced to quantify myocardial function in patients with congenital heart disease. These methods could have potential benefits for patients where the anatomy makes it difficult to quantify ventricular function using M-mode or two-dimensional volumetric techniques. In this overview, the potential benefits as well as limitations of the techniques are discussed. Looking directly into the myocardium renders the techniques geometry-independent, allowing the quantification of right ventricular as well as univentricular systolic function. The limitations include the influence of variable loading conditions as well as different methodological problems.
Friedberg
Mark K
MK
Division of Paediatric Cardiology, The Labatt Family Heart Center, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. mark.friedberg@sickkids.ca
Mertens
Luc
L
D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology