Two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging in evaluation of right ventricular function in patients with heart failure / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the right ventricular (RV) function with 2D speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) in patients with heart failure (HF). Methods Echocardiography was performed in 31 HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF group), 41 HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF group) and 26 healthy volunteers (control group). Conventional ultrasonic parameters were obtained on apical four-chamber images, including RV wall thickness, RV basal diameter (RVD1), RV end systolic area (RVESA), RV end diastolic area (RVEDA), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), peak systolic velocity (S'), myocardial performance index (MPI), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). 2D-STI was performed to observe strain parameters, including basal, middle, apical and the whole longitudinal peak systolic strain of RV free wall respectively (RVLSbas, RVLSmid, RVLSapi and RVLSfw). Then 2D strain parameters were compared among the three groups, and the correlation of 2D strain parameters and conventional ultrasonic parameters were analyzed. Results RV wall thickness, RVD1, MPI, RVFAC, TAPSE and LVEF were all significantly different among three groups (all P<0.01). RVLSbas, RVLSmid and RVLSfw gradually reduced in control group, HFPEF group and HFREF group (all P<0.05). RVLSfw had strong correlation with LVEF, TAPSE, MPI and RV wall thickness (r=-0.68, -0.53, 0.52, 0.51, all P<0.01) and had weak correlation with RVD1, FAC and S' (r=0.42, -0.46, -0.39, all P<0.01). Conclusion: 2D strain parameters can be used to assess RV function in patients with HF.