Does speckle tracking strain imaging help evaluate left ventricular mechanics and guide pacing strategies in patients requiring cardiac pacing?
Speckle tracking strain imaging provides detailed evaluation of LV mechanics to assess the detrimental effects of RV apical pacing and may guide the selection of alternative pacing sites or upgrades to biventricular pacing.
In recent years, concerns have been raised about possible harmful effects of long-term right ventricular (RV) apical pacing. These detrimental effects may be related to changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics during RV apical pacing. As a consequence, alternative RV pacing sites have been proposed, and in selected patients an upgrade from RV to biventricular pacing may be considered. Novel two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking strain imaging allows detailed evaluation of LV mechanics, including LV mechanical dyssynchrony, LV strain and LV torsion. In this review, the role of speckle tracking strain imaging in the evaluation of LV function in patients with RV apical pacing will be reviewed. The effects of RV apical pacing on LV mechanical dyssynchrony, LV strain and LV torsion will be discussed. In addition, the role of speckle tracking strain imaging in the selection of the optimal (alternative) RV pacing site and in the selection of patients who may benefit from an upgrade from RV apical pacing to biventricular pacing will be reviewed.
Tops et al. (2009) studied this question.