Evaluation of right ventricular function by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Accurate evaluation of right ventricular function plays an important role in evaluating the morbidity and mortality of heart and lung diseases. However, owing to the anatomical and functional distinctiveness of the right ventricle, traditional clinical echocardiographic indicators for evaluating right ventricular functions (for example, tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion and right ventricular fractional area change) still have some limitations in clinical application and prognostic value. In recent years, speckle tracking technology has been developed and it has been applied to the evaluation of the global and local functions of the right ventricle in various clinical and subclinical conditions, showing its unique superiorities in assessing heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and tumor chemotherapy. This article reviews the clinical application of two-dimensional speckle tracking technology in the evaluation of right ventricular function.