The future of echocardiographic left ventricular quantification - Towards automated assessment of global and regional function in four dimensions

Abstract

Quantification of global and regional left ventricular (LV) function using echocardiography has significantly improved with evolving technology and development of more robust techniques. By building on the strengths and solving some of the limitations of techniques such as 2D speckle tracking imaging and 3D echocardiography, newly developed 3D speckle tracking offers a comprehensive quantitative evaluation of global and regional LV function, including assessment of dyssynchrony. Not only chamber indices such as LV volumes and ejection fraction, but also parameters directly assessing global and regional myocardial function such as strain and torsion can now be visualised and quantified in one fast analysis. Data on the validation and application of these parameters are quickly accumulating, demonstrating great promise for their clinical use - for example, for identification of regional wall motion abnormalities, assessment of dyssynchrony and prediction of response to cardiac resynchronisation therapy. In this regard, 3D speckle tracking echocardiography serves as a major stepping stone towards a robust fully automated assessment of global and regional LV function in the near future. © TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2011.