New echocardiographic techniques, such as tissue Doppler and 3D imaging, provide valuable non-invasive assessment of ventricular function and anatomy in patients with congenital heart disease.
Advanced echocardiographic techniques enhance the non-invasive assessment of ventricular function and anatomy in congenital heart disease, potentially reducing reliance on invasive modalities.
Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an important tool for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Appropriate use of TTE can reduce the need for more invasive and complex modalities, such as cardiac catheterization and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. New echocardiographic techniques have emerged for the assessment of ventricular systolic and diastolic function: Tissue Doppler imaging, tissue tracking, strain and strain rate imaging, vector velocity imaging (VVI), myocardial performance index, myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA), the ratio of systolic to diastolic duration (S/D ratio), and other measurements of systolic right ventricular (RV) function like tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). These modalities may become valuable indicators of ventricular performance, compliance and disease progression, with the caveat of preload-dependency of the variables measured. In addition, three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography for the assessment of cardiac anatomy, valvular function, device position, ventricular volumes and ejection fraction is integrated into routine clinical care. In this review, we discuss the potential use and limitations of these new echocardiographic techniques in patients with CHD. A particular focus is on the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) function by means of tissue Doppler imaging, tissue tracking, and three-dimensional imaging, in conditions associated with increased right ventricular volume or pressure load.
Köestenberger et al. (2012) conducted a review in Congenital heart disease (CHD). New echocardiographic techniques (e.g., Tissue Doppler, strain imaging, 3D echocardiography) was evaluated. New echocardiographic techniques, such as tissue Doppler and 3D imaging, provide valuable non-invasive assessment of ventricular function and anatomy in patients with congenital heart disease.