2D Speckle Tracking Imaging In Evaluation Of Right Ventricular Function In Patients With Heart Failure

Objective To evaluate right ventricular(RV)function by 2D speckle tracking imaging(2D-STI)in patients with heart failure(HF).Methods Echocardiography was performed in 31 patients of HF with reduced ejection fraction(HFREF group),41 patients of HF with preserved ejection fraction(HFPEF group)and 26 healthy volunteers(control group).Conventional ultrasonic parameters were obtained on apical four-chamber images,including RV wall thickness,RV basal diameter(RVD1),RV end systolic area(RVESA),RV end diastolic area(RVEDA),RV fractional area change(RVFAC),peak systolic velocity(S'),myocardial performance index(MPI),tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE),and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF).2D-STI was performed to observe strain parameters,including basal,middle,apical and the whole longitudinal peak systolic strain of RV free wall respectively(RVLSbas,RVLSmid,RVLSapi and RVLSfw).2D strain parameters were compared among the three groups,and the correlations of 2D strain parameters and conventional ultrasonic parameters were analyzed.Results RV wall thickness,RVD1,MPI,RVFAC,TAPSE and LVEF were all significantly different among three groups(all P<0.01).The RVLSbas,RVLSmid and RVLSfw in control group,HFPEF group and HFREF group gradually reduced(all P < 0.05).RVLSfw had a strong correlation with LVEF,TAPSE,MPI and RV wall thickness(r=-0.68,-0.53,0.52,0.51,all P<0.01),and had weak correlation with RVD1,FAC and S'(r=0.42,-0.46,-0.39,all P<0.01).Conclusion 2D strain parameters can be used to assess RV function in patients with HF.