Feasibility of 3D Speckle Tracking in the Assessment of Global Longitudinal Strain in a Cohort of Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis.
Penhall, A. Perry, R. Crouch, G. Judd, Selvanayagam J.
Heart Lung Circ.
S179 2013;22:S126–S266
doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2013.05.428
Abstract
Background: Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) has been widely used as a clinical and research tool in assessing myocardial strain. Recent advances in probe technology and software now allow us to assess this deformation from a 3D dataset. This allows the measurement of myocardial strain of the whole left ventricle instead of selected 2D slices. We sought to compare global longitudinal strain (GLS) using the novel 3D STE to the widely validated 2D STE as well as the time required for analysis in a population of patients with pathological left ventricular hypertrophy.
Results: There was no significant difference between 3D GLS and 2D GLS values (p = 0.51). Time taken for 3D analysis was significantly longer than 2D analysis (209.8 ± 37.4 s vs. 104.9 ± 17.8 s, p < 0.0001). 3D GLS inter and intraobserver variability were both 2%. 2D GLS inter and intraobserver variability was 4% and 5% respectively. Out of a possible 18 datasets, all were able to be analysed using 3D analysis compared to 14 using AFI method.
Conclusion: Three-dimensional GLS is a feasible and reproducible technique, more so than standard 2D STE. Although analysis time is slightly longer it is able to analyse more segments than 2D GLS and gives additional information such as LV volumes, ejection fraction, as well as circumferential, radial and area strain in the one analysis.