Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Nepean Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Curr Opin Crit Care. 2013 Jun;19(3):250-7. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0b013e32836092b7.
Speckle tracking is the latest available technology in echocardiography. However, the technology is still mainly used as a research tool. The potential applications of speckle tracking are many, including cardiac synchronization, regional wall motion analysis, and in the areas of cardiac mechanic studies. This review presents the background theory of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and how this technology can be extended to velocity vector analysis, strain, and torsion measurements. The interpretations of these measurements are covered. We also present some potential applications in the critical care setting.
Speckle tracking is almost always available in high-end ultrasound machines. The technology has been applied to velocity vector analysis, strain and strain rate measurements, and twist and torsion analysis. Torsion analysis and velocity vector analyses are impossible without using speckle tracking. Speckle tracking-derived strain is superior to tissue Doppler strain because it is angle-independent. A number of studies demonstrated that STE is useful in left and right heart assessments and can be used in assessing preload and afterload.
Speckle tracking can be used to measure instantaneous myocardial contractility, strain, and left ventricular torsion. It is still a research tool at present, but shows the promise of being a clinical tool in the future.
斑点追踪是超声心动图的最新技术。然而，该技术主要仍作为研究工具。斑点追踪的潜在应用很多，包括心脏同步、局部壁运动分析，以及心脏力学研究领域。本综述介绍了斑点追踪超声心动图（STE）的背景理论，以及如何将其扩展到速度向量分析、应变和扭转测量。涵盖了这些测量的解释。我们还介绍了一些在重症监护环境中的潜在应用。
斑点追踪几乎总是在高端超声机上可用。该技术已应用于速度向量分析、应变和应变速率测量以及扭转和扭转分析。没有使用斑点追踪就不可能进行扭转分析和速度向量分析。斑点追踪衍生的应变优于组织多普勒应变，因为它是角度独立的。许多研究表明，STE 对左、右心评估有用，并可用于评估前负荷和后负荷。
斑点追踪可用于测量心肌收缩力、应变和左心室扭转的瞬间变化。目前它仍然是一种研究工具，但有希望成为未来的临床工具。
