Abstract
Background. A novel tissue tracking system (TTS) allows the determination of two-dimensional strain from gray scale digital echocardiographic images. We used TTS to measure myocardial strain of the left ventricle (LV) in healthy children.
Methods. The study group consisted of 40 healthy children (2 months to 18 years old). The radial and circumferential strain of the interventricular septum (IVS) and the posterior wall (PW) of the left ventricle were measured using the short axis LV view, and the longitudinal strain of the IVS and lateral wall were calculated from the apical four-chamber view.
Results. Large differences were seen in the strain of different cardiac regions. Radial strain was largest in the PW (49.1±12.9%), and longitudinal strain was smallest in the IVS (27.5±8.0%). There were no significant relationships between any of the measured peak systolic strain values and heart rate or age. Bland-Altman analysis showed inter- and intra-observer standard deviations of 4.7% and 4.9%, respectively.
Conclusions: TTS is able to measure three directional strain of the myocardium in a pediatric population. Our data can be used as normal pediatric cardiac myocardial strain values.
