Effect of Temporal and Spatial Smoothing on Speckle–Tracking-Derived Strain in Neonates

AbstractClinical application of strain in neonates requires an understanding of which image acquisition and processing parameters affect strain values. Previous studies have examined frame rate, transmitting frequency, and vendor heterogeneity. However, there is a lack of human studies on how user-regulated spatial and temporal smoothing affect strain values in 36 neonates. This study examined nine different combinations of spatial and temporal smoothing on peak systolic left ventricular longitudinal strain in 36 healthy neonates. Strain values were acquired from four-chamber echocardiographic images in the software-defined epicardial, midwall, and endocardial layers in the six standard segments and average four-chamber stain. Strain values were compared using repeated measure ANOVAs. Overall, spatial smoothing had a larger impact than temporal smoothing, and segmental strain values were more sensitive to smoothing settings than average four-chamber strain. Apicoseptal strain decreased by approximately 4% with increasing spatial smoothing, corresponding to a 13–19% proportional change (depending on wall layer). Therefore, we recommend clinicians be mindful of smoothing settings when assessing segmental strain values.

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Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography With Novel High Frame-Rate Imaging

10.20944/preprints202104.0403.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kana Fujikura ◽

Mohammed Makkiya ◽

Muhammad Farooq ◽

Yun Xing ◽

Wayne Humphrey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temporal Resolution ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography ◽

Myocardial Strain ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Frame Rate ◽

High Frame Rate ◽

Echocardiographic Images ◽

The Impact ◽

Normal Lvef

Background: global longitudinal strain (GLS) measures myocardial deformation and is a sensitive modality for detecting subclinical myocardial dysfunction and predicting cardiac outcomes. The accuracy of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is dependent on temporal resolution. A novel software enables relatively high frame rate (Hi-FR) (~200 fps) echocardiographic images acquisition which empowers us to investigate the impact of Hi-FR imaging on GLS analysis. The goal of this pilot study was to demonstrate the feasibility of Hi-FR for STE. Methods: In this prospective study, we acquired echocardiographic images using clinical scanners on patients with normal left ventricular systolic function using Hi-FR and conventional frame rate (Reg-FR) (~50 FPS). GLS values were evaluated on apical 4-, 2- and 3-chamber images acquired in both Hi-FR and Reg-FR. Inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities were assessed in Hi-FR and Reg-FR. Results: There were 143 resting echocardiograms with normal LVEF included in this study. The frame rate of Hi-FR was 190 ± 25 and Reg-FR was 50 ± 3, and the heart rate was 71 ± 13. Strain values measured in Hi-FR were significantly higher than those measured in Reg-FR (all p < 0.001). Inter-observer and intra-observer correlations were strong in both Hi-FR and Reg-FR. Conclusions: We demonstrated that strain values were significantly higher using Hi-FR when compared with Reg-FR in patients with normal LVEF. It is plausible that higher temporal resolution enabled the measurement of myocardial strain at desired time point. The result of this study may inform clinical adoption of the novel technology. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the value of Hi-FR to assess myocardial strain in stress echocardiography in the setting of tachycardia.

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Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography with Novel Imaging Technique of Higher Frame Rate

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10102095 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 2095

Author(s):

Kana Fujikura ◽

Mohammed Makkiya ◽

Muhammad Farooq ◽

Yun Xing ◽

Wayne Humphrey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temporal Resolution ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography ◽

Systolic Function ◽

Myocardial Strain ◽

Left Ventricular Systolic Function ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Frame Rate ◽

Normal Left Ventricular ◽

Echocardiographic Images

Background: The accuracy of speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) depends on temporal resolution. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of relatively high frame rate (rHi-FR) (~200 fps) for STE. Methods: In this prospective study, echocardiographic images were acquired using clinical scanners on patients with normal left ventricular systolic function using rHi-FR and conventional frame rate (Reg-FR) (~50 FPS). GLS values were evaluated on apical 4-, 2- and 3-chamber images acquired in both rHi-FR and Reg-FR. Inter-observer and intra-observer variabilities were assessed in rHi-FR and Reg-FR. Results: There were 143 echocardiograms evaluated in this study. The frame rate of rHi-FR was 190 ± 25 and Reg-FR was 50 ± 3, and the heart rate was 71 ± 13. Absolute strain values measured in rHi-FR were significantly higher than those measured in Reg-FR (all p < 0.001). Inter-observer and intra-observer correlations were strong in both rHi-FR and Reg-FR. Conclusions: We demonstrated that absolute strain values were significantly higher using rHi-FR when compared with Reg-FR. It is plausible that higher temporal resolution enabled the measurement of myocardial strain at desired time point. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the value of rHi-FR to assess myocardial strain in the setting of tachycardia.

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Digital Subtraction High-Frame-Rate Echocardiography in Detecting Delayed Onset of Regional Left Ventricular Relaxation in Ischemic Heart Disease

Circulation ◽

10.1161/01.cir.91.2.304 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 304-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Hiroya Kondo ◽

Tohru Masuyama ◽

Ken Ishihara ◽

Toshiaki Mano ◽

Kazuhiro Yamamoto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Disease ◽

Ischemic Heart Disease ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Frame Rate ◽

Ischemic Heart ◽

Digital Subtraction ◽

High Frame Rate ◽

Left Ventricular Relaxation ◽

Delayed Onset ◽

Ventricular Relaxation

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Optimization of Microbubble Concentration and Acoustic Pressure for Left Ventricular High Frame Rate EchoPIV in Patients

IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control ◽

10.1109/tuffc.2021.3066082 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

Jason Voorneveld ◽

Lana B.H. Keijzer ◽

Mihai Strachinaru ◽

Daniel J. Bowen ◽

Ferit O. Mutluer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acoustic Pressure ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Frame Rate ◽

High Frame Rate

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Effects of single- and biventricular pacing on temporal and spatial dynamics of ventricular contraction

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.2002.282.1.h372 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 282 (1) ◽

pp. H372-H379 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Bradley T. Wyman ◽

William C. Hunter ◽

Frits W. Prinzen ◽

Owen P. Faris ◽

Elliot R. McVeigh

Keyword(s):

Left Ventricle ◽

Biventricular Pacing ◽

Spatial Dynamics ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Spatiotemporal Distribution ◽

Right Atrial ◽

Temporal Synchrony ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

Tagged Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Activation Delay

Resynchronization is frequently used for the treatment of heart failure, but the mechanism for improvement is not entirely clear. In the present study, the temporal synchrony and spatiotemporal distribution of left ventricular (LV) contraction was investigated in eight dogs during right atrial (RA), right ventricular apex (RVa), and biventricular (BiV) pacing using tagged magnetic resonance imaging. Mechanical activation (MA; the onset of circumferential shortening) was calculated from the images throughout the left ventricle for each pacing protocol. MA width (time for 20–90% of the left ventricle to contract) was significantly shorter during RA (43.6 ± 17.1 ms) than BiV and RVa pacing (67.4 ± 15.2 and 77.6 ± 16.4 ms, respectively). The activation delay vector (net delay in MA from one side of the left ventricle to the other) was significantly shorter during RA (18.9 ± 8.1 ms) and BiV (34.2 ± 18.3 ms) than during RVa (73.8 ± 16.3 ms) pacing. Rate of LV pressure increase was significantly lower during RVa than RA pacing (1,070 ± 370 vs. 1,560 ± 300 mmHg/s) with intermediate values for BiV pacing (1,310 ± 220 mmHg/s). BiV pacing has a greater impact on correcting the spatial distribution of LV contraction than on improving the temporal synchronization of contraction. Spatiotemporal distribution of contraction may be an important determinant of ventricular function.

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Left Ventricular and adjacent Right ventricular Pseudoaneurysms post acute myocardial infarction communicating via a Ventricular Septal Defect

10.22541/au.160812826.67804259/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Kang ◽

John Wilson ◽

Jeffrey Friedel ◽

Angel Flores

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Right Ventricular ◽

Color Doppler ◽

Fatal Outcome ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Inferior Wall ◽

Papillary Muscle Rupture ◽

Mechanical Complications ◽

Muscle Rupture ◽

Echocardiographic Images

The rare but deadly post myocardial infarction (MI) mechanical complications are categorized as ventricular free wall rupture, ventricular septal rupture (VSD) and papillary muscle rupture in decreasing order of incidence. The incidence of the mechanical complications has been mitigated by early revascularization in recent years but mortality remains high. The cardiac rupture if contained by clot, scar and pericardium leads to a LV pseudoaneurysm that delays or diminishes the fatal outcome. Mechanical complications and pseudoaneurysm are recognized by echocardiography. We report a previously unreported occurrence of a pseudoaneurysm involving the adjacent walls of both the ventricles, LV basal and inferoseptal walls and the adjacent right ventricular inferior wall (RV). The LV and RV communicated via a hole in the pseudoaneurysmal wall. The echocardiographic images initially showed the LV pseudoaneurysm bulging into the RV rather than into the pericardium. The color Doppler showed shunting through the LV pseudoaneurysm into the RV creating an unusual VSD. The CT angiograms corroborated the echo findings. The LV pseudoaneurysm had a tear in it and this led to bleeding not into pericardium but into the adjacent RV pseudoaneurysm, hence creating a very unusual VSD. Subsequently, our patient went for surgical repair of pseudoaneurysm and the surgical findings confirmed the imaging findings that there was a massive LV pseudoaneurysm from the inferior and inferoseptal walls, the adjacent RV wall was involved with the pseudoaneurysm and a communication between LV pseudoaneuysm sac and the RV was seen. Such pathology has not been described in the past.

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P1501Can we measure the stiffening of hypertensive hearts non-invasively? A shear wave imaging study using ultra-high frame rate echocardiography

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz748.0264 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

M Cvijic ◽

P Santos ◽

A M Petrescu ◽

S Bezy ◽

M Orlowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Left Atrium ◽

Shear Wave ◽

Interventricular Septum ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Frame Rate ◽

Volume Index ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Myocardial Stiffness ◽

High Frame Rate ◽

Concentric Hypertrophy

Abstract Background Cardiac shear wave (SW) elastography is a novel technique based on high-frame-rate (HFR) echocardiography which has been shown to be related to myocardial stiffness. In this study we explore the relation between myocardial SW velocity and myocardial remodelling in remodelled hearts of patients with arterial hypertension (AH). Methods We prospectively included 33 treated AH patients with hypertrophic left ventricular (LV) remodelling (59±14 years, 55% male) and 26 aged matched healthy controls (55±15 years, 77% male). AH patients were further divided according to their LV geometric pattern into a concentric remodelling (CR) group (13 patients) and a concentric hypertrophy (CH) group (20 patients). LV parasternal long axis views were acquired with an experimental HFR ultrasound scanner (HD-PULSE) at 1266±317 frames per seconds. Myocardial acceleration maps were created from the HFR-datasets and an anatomical M-mode line was drawn along the midline of the interventricular septum (IVS). The propagation velocity of natural SWs occurring at mitral valve closure (MVC) was measured on these M-modes (Figure A) in order to assess passive myocardial stiffness. Standard echocardiography using a commercial scanner was performed to evaluate LV remodelling. Results SW velocities at MVC differed significantly between AH patients and controls (5.83±1.20 m/s vs. 4.04±0.96 m/s; p<0.001). Within the patient group, patients with CH had highest SW velocities at MVC (p<0.001), whereas values between controls and patients with CR were comparable (p=0.075) (Figure B). In AH patients, significant positive correlations were found between SW velocity at MVC and parameters of LV remodelling (IVS thickness: r=0.728, p<0.001; LV mass index: r=0.780, p<0.001, LV end-diastolic volume: r=0.604, p=0.008) (Figure C) and also parameters of diastolic function (E/e': r=0.495, p=0.005, left atrium diameter: r=0.866, p<0.001, left atrium volume index: r=0.661, p<0.001). Figure A, B, C Conclusions SW velocity – and therefore myocardial stiffness – is higher in AH patients compared to healthy controls and increases with increasing severity of hypertensive heart disease. Patients with concentric remodelling have still close-to-normal passive myocardial properties while patients with concentric hypertrophy show significant stiffening. Echocardiographic shear wave elastography is a promising new technique for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial stiffness and might provide valuable new insights into myocardial function and the pathophysiology of myocardial disease.

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