Quantitative regional myocardial strain and strain rate imaging provides additional information on myocardial function

We sought to investigate whether high frame rate ultrasound-derived regional strain rate and strain could yield new information on regional function in normal and stunned myocardium. Radial strain rate and strain were monitored during dobutamine infusion in 9 pigs with regional myocardial stunning and 7 controls. Inotropic stimulation resulted in a transitory reversal of deformation abnormalities of stunned myocardium as assessed with strain profiles. The contractile reserve of both stunned and normal myocardium was better quantified by the maximal systolic strain rate rather than by systolic strain.