Standard values for transthoracic three-dimensional echocardiographic new systolic-derived speckle tracking parameters in a normal population

Introduction

There is a paucity of information describing 3D echocardiographic new systolic-derived speckle tracking parameters of a normal population. We sought to evaluate by 3D echo: rotation, twist, torsion regional, torsion basal, radial 3D strain, and 3D displacement – in a population with normal ECG, 2D and 3D echocardiographic analyses. This information may be relevant for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) evaluation in patients with advanced heart failure in ICUs.

Methods

We evaluated 27 healthy volunteers (16 males, 43 ± 14 years), who were referred for routine echocardiography, presented normal cardiac structure on ECG, 2D and RT3DE, and had no previous history of cardiac diseases. We analyzed the 3D left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricle end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricle end systolic volume (LVESV), and 3D echo rotation, twist, torsion regional, torsion basal, radial 3D strain, and 3D displacement. We employed a commercially available machine (Artida, Toshiba, Japan). Data were analyzed by quantifying the statistical distribution (mean, median, SD, relative SD, coefficient of skewness, coefficient of kurtosis, Kolmogorov and D'Agostino–Pearson test, percentiles, 95% CI).

Results

3D LVEF ranged from 49 to 67% (58.4 ± 5.6); LVEDV from 62.4 to 100.3 ml (92.9 ± 17.4); LVESV from 20.4 to 47.2 ml (43.2 ± 18.1); rotation ranged from 2.6 to 11.2° (6 ± 1.9), twist ranged from 0.7 to 20.6° (7.9 ± 4.5), torsion regional ranged from 0.9 to 6.6°/cm (3.7 ± 1.6), torsion basal ranged from 0.2 to 8.1°/cm (3.1 ± 1.9), radial 3D strain ranged from 4.4 to 67.5% (31.1 ± 17.2), and 3D displacement ranged from 6.3 to 11 mm (8.6 ± 1.4). Data were obtained from 21/27 (77.8%) volunteers who presented adequate quality imaging for analysis.

Conclusion

The present study allows for the quantification of 3D echocardiographic new systolic-derived speckle tracking parameters in normal subjects, providing a comparison for patients with heart failure who may be candidates for CRT.