Ventricular dyssynchrony at echo: Detection by two-dimensional tracking and tissue doppler imaging in candidates to biventricular pacing

Left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony is a predictor of response to biventricular (BIV) pacing in patients with heart failure (HF) and LV dysfunction. In this study we compared a novel two-dimensional speckle tracking technique to standard Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) with regard to LV dyssynchrony assessment in 10 HF patients candidated to BiV pacing. Substantial correlation was found between the two techniques in measuring LV dyssynchrony (r=0.69; pLt0,05). Two-dimensional speckle tracking was able to detect variations in LV dyssynchrony induced by simultaneous BiV pacing. This pilot evaluation suggests that two-dimensional speckle tracking may be a valuable alternative to standard TDI to assess LV dyssynchrony before implant and during follow up in candidates to BiV facing.