Automated Assessment of Left Atrial Function From Time-Left Atrial Volume Curves Using a Novel Speckle Tracking Imaging Method

Background Using a novel speckle-tracking imaging method, time-left atrial (LA) volume curves (TLAVCs) can be automatically obtained. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this method can be used for the measurement of LA function with TLAVCs. Methods In 10 normal subjects and 20 patients, apical 4-chamber images were obtained. Maximum volume, reservoir volume, conduit volume, booster pump volume, and minimum volume were measured from TLAVCs. The results were compared with those obtained by the manual tracing method on every frame during 1 cardiac cycle. Results There was good agreement between the speckle-tracking imaging and manual methods for maximum LA volume ( r = 0.98, P r = 0.82, P r = 0.87, P r = 0.80, P r = 0.98, P Conclusion TLAVCs obtained using the speckle-tracking imaging method can be used for the rapid and noninvasive automated quantitation of LA function.