Original articleGlobal longitudinal strain: a novel index of left ventricular systolic function
Section snippets
Echocardiography and acquisition of digital loops
Echocardiographic studies were performed using a commercially available machine (GE Vivid 3 Expert, General Electric Ultrasound, Milwaukee, Wis) equipped with a 1.5- to 1.7-MHz tissue harmonic imaging probe and a frame rate of 80 Hz. Digital loops were stored on the hard disk of the echocardiography machine for online or offline analysis, and transferred to a workstation (EchoPAC, Vingmed, General Electric, Horten, Norway) for offline analysis.
Selection of region of interest and tissue tracking
An innovative method for 2D strain analysis8 was
Results
In 4 patients post-MI and in 3 control patients, only 2 of the 3 apical views were available for analysis. In these patients GLS and GLSR was averaged from 2 apical views. The quality control program rejected 44 of the 660 segments (6.6%). In these loops GLS and GLSR was averaged from less than 6 segments.
Average GLS and GLSR differed significantly in patients post-MI compared with control patients (GLS −14.7 ± 5.1% vs −24.1 ± 2.9% and GLSR −0.57 ± 0.21/s vs −1.02 ± 0.09/s for patients post-MI
Discussion
The prognostic value of LV function is well recognized for patients who survive an acute MI.11 Because echocardiographic estimation of LV function is subjective, novel objective methods are obviously required.
Strain echocardiography is a promising method for assessing LV systolic and diastolic function.12 Doppler-derived tissue velocity imaging, the most commonly used method for the assessment of LV strain, is angle dependent.12 Other 2D echocardiography-based techniques, like color kinesis,
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