Clinical study on left ventricular short-axis strain in patients with heart failure by speckle tracking imaging

AIM:To evaluate the clinical value of speckle tracking imaging in the measurement of left ventricular short-axis views regional strain in patients with heart failure. METHODS: High-frame rate two-dimensional images were recorded from the left ventricular short-axis views and regional radial strain and circumferential strain were measured in the left ventricular short-axis views from heart failure patients and from control group. RESULTS: In the control group no significant difference was observed in regional radial strain of the same short-axis and the radial strain of papillary muscle views was higher than apex views. A significant difference was seen in circumferential strain of the same short-axis (P<0.05). Compared with control group, regional radial strain and circumferential strain in patients with heart failure significantly decreased (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Radial strain and circumferential strain in all segments are significantly reduced in patients with heart failure, which indicates that systolic function in left ventricular short-axis of patients with heart failure is severely impaired.