Importance of frame rate for the measurement of strain and synchrony in fetuses using speckle tracking echocardiography

Abstract Objectives To assess the influence of frame rate settings on longitudinal strain (LS) and mechanical synchrony (SYN) values in Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) of healthy fetuses. Methods In this prospective study, we collected transversal or apical four-chamber-views of 121 healthy fetuses between 20 and 38 weeks of gestation using three different frame rate (FR) settings (≥ 110, 100 ± 10, 60 ± 10 frames per second). We assessed the segmental and the global LS of both ventricles (2C) and of the left ventricle (LV) offline with QLab 10.8 (Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA). Inter- and intraventricular SYN were calculated as time difference in peak myocardial strain between the mid-segments of left and right ventricle (interventricular, 2C_Syn) and lateral wall and septum of the left ventricle (intraventricular, LV_Syn), respectively. Results In 84.3% STE was feasible at all three FR settings. The LS increased in both views at higher FRs to a statistically noticeable extent. SYN measurements and the absolute differences at patient level between the FR settings showed no statistically noticeable alterations. Conclusions STE is feasible at low and high FR settings. SYN emerges to be a robust parameter for fetal STE as it is less affected by the FR. High FRs enable high temporal resolutions and thus an accurate examination of fetal hearts. Future research for the technical implementation of tailored fetal STE software is necessary for reliable clinical application.

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Quantification of fetal myocardial function in pregnant women with diabetic diseases and in normal controls using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2018-0031 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 68-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nina Rolf ◽

Laura Kerschke ◽

Janina Braun ◽

Maria Karina Falkenberg ◽

Kerstin Hammer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Longitudinal Strain ◽

Myocardial Function ◽

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography ◽

Myocardial Strain ◽

Frame Rate ◽

Medical Systems ◽

Interventricular Dyssynchrony ◽

Normal Controls

Abstract Background The purpose of our study was to quantify the fetal myocardial function in pregnant women with diabetic diseases (FDM) and in normal controls (FC) using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods In this prospective study, the myocardial strain and dyssynchrony were analyzed using STE in a transversal four-chamber view in 180 fetuses (53 FDM, 127 FC) between 19 and 39 weeks of gestation. The measurements of the global and segmental longitudinal strain of both chambers (2C) and of the single left chamber (1C) were executed offline via QLab 10.5 (Philips Medical Systems, Andover, MA, USA). We assessed dyssynchrony as the time difference between peaks in strain in the mid segments of both chambers (interventricular dyssynchrony, 2C_DYS) and of the single left chamber (intraventricular dyssynchrony, 1C_DYS). Results Measurements were feasible with a high median frame rate of 199 frames/s (1st quartile: 174, 3rd quartile: 199). The global and segmental myocardial longitudinal strain of 2C and 1C were decreased and 2C_DYS and 1C_DYS were increased in pregnancies with diabetes compared to normal controls. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that fetal hearts affected by maternal diabetes mellitus (DM) show low myocardial strain values and high interventricular dyssynchrony. Two-chamber interventricular dyssynchrony has the potential to become a diagnostic marker for DM.

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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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Clinical significance of myocardial strain in the patients with chd (literature review)

Journal of New Medical Technologies eJournal ◽

10.12737/7363 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 0-0

Author(s):

Туаева ◽

Z. Tuaeva ◽

Кириченко ◽

T. Kirichenko

Keyword(s):

Left Ventricle ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography ◽

Contractile Function ◽

Imaging Modality ◽

Myocardial Strain ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Lv Function ◽

Left Ventricular Myocardium ◽

Wide Range

2-D echocardiography is currently the first-line imaging modality for assessing global and regional function of left ventricle (LV). Using 2-D echocardiography, LV function is most often evaluated visually, as a result of the quality of the research depends directly on the experience and qualifications of the expert. The new technology of two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography allows to assessing the contractile function of the left ventricle quantitative. Over the years, the numerous studies have demonstrated the value of speckle tracking echocardiography in the diagnosis and risk stratification of a wide range of cardiac diseases, including coronary heart disease [14]. During the cardiac cycle the speckle tracking echocardiography allows in semi-automatic mode to evaluate the deformation of the myocardium in the three spatial directions: longitudinal, radial, and circular. In addition, speckle tracking estimates the direction of rotation and speed of motion of the left ventricular myocardium. This technology may have important clinical value for quick and accurate assessment of global and segmental myocardial function. The use of estimates of the deformation of the myocardium and the speed of deformation of the myocardium by means of speckle tracking method may be able to increase the sensitivity and precision of stenosing lesions of the coronary arteries [16].

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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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Strain and dyssynchrony in fetuses with congenital heart disease compared to normal controls using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2019-0073 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 598-604

Author(s):

Marie-Charlotte Véronique Drop ◽

Mareike Möllers ◽

Kerstin Hammer ◽

Kathrin Oelmeier de Murcia ◽

Maria Karina Falkenberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Congenital Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Speckle Tracking ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Speckle Tracking Echocardiography ◽

Myocardial Strain ◽

Lateral Wall ◽

Mechanical Dyssynchrony ◽

Control Group ◽

Normal Controls

Abstract Objective To compare myocardial strain and mechanical dyssynchrony in fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) to normal controls using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods In this comparative cross-sectional study 23 fetuses with CHD and 105 normal controls between 19 and 41 weeks of gestation were assessed with STE. The STE sample box was placed over the myocardium of both ventricles. The parameters of interest included the segmental strain of the left (LV-S) and right lateral ventricle wall (RV-S) and the global ventricular strain of both chambers (2C-S). In order to separately assess the LV, we placed the STE sample box over the myocardium of the LV. We calculated the strain of the LV lateral wall (LW-S), the septum (SEPT-S) and the global ventricular strain of the single LV (1C-S). Furthermore, we analyzed the differences in timing of negative peak myocardial strain between the LV and RV (two-chamber dyssynchrony, 2C-DYS) and also within the LV between the lateral wall and the septum (one-chamber dyssynchrony, 1C-DYS). Results The evaluation of strain and mechanical dyssynchrony was feasible in all cases. Compared to normal controls, fetuses with CHD showed lower segmental and global strain values and the extent of 2C-DYS and 1C-DYS was higher than in the healthy control group. Conclusion The deterioration of myocardial function in CHD can be measured with STE. The assessment of strain and dyssynchrony with STE may be useful for distinguishing fetuses with CHD from healthy fetuses.

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