Relationship Between Left Atrial Strain and Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of Stress Echocardiography

Figures

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  Figure 1. Different phases of the LA during the cardiac cycle.

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  Figure 2. Different phases of LAS during the cardiac cycle. AVC—aortic valve closure; LAScc—left atrial strain conduction; LASct—left atrial strain contraction; LASr—left atrial strain reservoir.

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  Figure 3. Speckle tracking of left atrial strain. 2CH—apical two chambers view; 4CH—apical four chambers view; LAVmax—left atrial maximum volume; S_CD—left atrial strain in conduct phase; S_CT—left atrial strain in contraction phase; S_R—left atrial strain in reservoir phase.

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  Figure 4. The most important mechanism of pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation.

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  Figure 5. Indication and interpretation of diastolic stress echocardiography. LVOTO—left ventricular outflow tract obstruction; MR—mitral regurgitation; RWMA—regional wall motion abnormalities; TRV—tricuspid regurgitation velocity. Blue: diagnostic pathway; Red: diagnosis.

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  Figure 6. Stress echocardiography protocol includes evaluation of left atrial function and pulmonary congestion. A2C—apical 2-chamber; A4C—apical 4-chamber; DSE—dobutamine stress echocardiography; ESE—exercise stress echocardiography; LAS—left atrial strain; LAV—left atrial volume; LV—left ventricle; LVOT—left ventricle outflow tract; LUS—lung ultrasounds; MR—mitral regurgitation; PASP—pulmonary artery systolic pressure; RWMA—regional wall motion abnormalities; SEP—stress echocardiography protocols.