Normal values for longitudinal tissue velocity and strain rate imaging in individual segments of the left and right ventricles of healthy adult hearts.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the normal peak mean systolic velocities and strain rate parameters in the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) and define their regional differences in normal adult hearts. METHODS: Sixty-nine healthy volunteers (42% male; mean age ± SD, 30.03 ± 5.35 years) underwent color tissue Doppler and strain rate imaging. The first and second peak mean systolic velocities, peak strain, and strain rate in the systolic ejection phase were determined for 16 LV segments, the apex (17th segment), and 3 RV free wall segments. RESULTS: The first peak mean systolic velocity was measurable in less than 50% of segments in the inferior and septal (-posterior) walls and RV free wall and in greater than 70% of segments of the other LV walls. The first and second peak mean systolic velocities of all LV walls and the RV free wall decreased significantly from the basal to apical region (P < .001).The strain and strain rate in the lateral and anterior walls decreased significantly from base to apex, whereas the anteroseptal and posterior walls were homogeneous. The strain rate in the inferior wall increased remarkably from base to apex, whereas it decreased significantly from the mid level to the apex. The strain in the RV was homogeneous, whereas the strain rate decreased significantly from the mid level to the apex. The apex (17th segment) showed the lowest value for each of the study parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal velocities decreased from base to apex, whereas deformation measurements did not show uniform patterns in LV walls and the RV free wall. In most cases, there are 1 peak systolic velocity in the inferior and septal (-posterior) walls and 2 peak systolic velocities in the other 4 LV walls.