Two dimensional strain and strain rate imaging for assessing left atrial function before and after balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Abstract

SUMMARY R heumatic heart disease is one of the most common forms of cardiac diseases worldwide, particularly in developing countries, where it remains the second most common cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after atherosclerotic vascular disease. Mitral stenosis is the most common valve lesion seen in chronic rheumatic heart disease, mitral stenosis not only produces significant hemodynamic load on the left atrium but the pathology of rheumatic heart disease causes myocardial fibrosis; all of which impair left atrial function. However, direct assessment of left atrial mechanics hasn’t been available despite advancements in echocardiography. Recently, speckle tracking imaging of left atrium has been validated as a feasible and reproducible technology in the assessment of left atrial function, which can provide a direct assessment tool of left atrial function by measuring myocardial deformation, while overcoming the pitfalls of tissue Doppler imaging in assessment of left atrial strain.