Evaluation of right ventricular regional myocardial systolic function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging

Objective To assess right ventricular (RV) regional myocardial systolic function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI).Methods Forty patients with APE and 40 controls were enrolled in the study.Conventional echocardiographic parameters were recorded.Longitudinal peak systolic velocity (VL),longitudinal peak systolic strain (SL),longitudinal peak systolic strain rate (SRL) were measured in RV free wall and interventricular septum (IVS) for basal,mid and apical segment by 2D-STI from the apical four-chamber view.Results Compared with controls,VL and SL of RV for all segments were significantly impaired in patients with APE (except SL of RV free wall for basal segment) (P ＜0.05).SRL of RV for all segments showed no significant difference between controls and APE groups (P ＞0.05).VL of IVS for each segment was significantly lower than that of RV free wall in controls and APE groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions The patients with APE have reduced regional myocardial systolic function.2D-STI is a new method to evaluate RV regional myocardial function in patients with APE. Key words: Echocardiography;  Pulmonary embolism ;  Ventricular function, right;  Speckle tracking imaging, two-dimensional