Echocardiographic Strain Imaging in Coronary Artery Disease: The Added Value of a Quantitative Approach

Abstract

For more than 30 years, echocardiography, through the measurement of ejection fraction and wall motion assessment, has played a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute and chronic ischemic heart disease. The introduction of myocardial strain, measured by speckle tracking echocardiography, is shifting this paradigm. Strain imaging catches something pathophysiologically deeper into myocardial function, facing a wide range of clinical applications. This review summarizes the basic concepts of strain imaging and its applicability in clinical practice for the evaluation of the ventricular and the left atrial function in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Keywords: Coronary artery disease; Global longitudinal strain; Ischemic cardiomyopathy; Left atrium; Right ventricular infarction; Speckle tracking echocardiography.