Assessment of Left Ventricular function using two- and three-dimensional speckle tracking Echocardiography among healthy Egyptian pediatric-aged children

Abstract

Background: Accurate measurements of left ventricular volumes and function are important in the management of patients with various cardiac abnormalities. Speckle tracking echocardiography has shown to be accurate in detecting subclinical myocardial dysfunction when most of the conventional echocardiograph parameters were normal or reported inconsistent results Aim of the study: To establish normal values for the LV systolic function among healthy Egyptian pediatric population using 2D and 3D speckle tracking Echocardiography. Patients and methods: the study included 200 subjects who attended cardiology department Ain Shams University for elective echocardiology below 6 years of age with unremarkable history and no chronic illness affecting LV function with normal 2D echocardiography. Results: The study involved 200 subjects with age ranged from 0.1 to 5.9 years and its mean was 3.8±1.5 years. 104 were males representing 52% of subjects of the study while females were 96 representing 48%. Their weight ranged from 3.5 to 28 Kg and its mean was 17.14±4.9 Kg. Their height ranged from 0.11 to 1.24 M and its mean was 1.012±0.178 M. Body surface area ranged from 0.22 to 1.1 Kg/m2 and its mean was 0.695±0.151 Kg/m2. Regarding the 2D speckle tracking parameters: longitudinal strain ranged from -18.6% to -24.6% with its mean was -21.314±1.57%. Circumferential strain was from -16.7% to -23.4% and its mean -19.02±1.23%. And radial strain ranged from 36.4% to 52.6% with mean 42.392±2.794%. Regarding the 3D speckle tracking data: longitudinal strain ranged from -17% to -30% with its mean was -20.73±2.039%. Circumferential strain was from -11% to -21% with its mean -13.259±4.670%. And radial strain ranged from 41% to 61% with its mean 47.511±4.82%.