In developing countries, rheumatic mitral valve stenosis is still a problem. Its progression leads leads to left atrial damage, which predisposes to atrial fibrillation, thrombus formation, and decompensated heart failure, all of which substantially modify the prognosis and course of the disease. As a result, left atrium evaluation was shown to be clinically significant in mitral stenosis.
Due to the complexity of the left atrium geometry, currently used techniques like antero-posterior dimensions and 2D echo delivered Left atrium volume have several limitations that are corrected by 3D provided LA volumes. Additionally, functional evaluation with speckle tracking echo enables us to evaluate the three physiological functions of the left atrium: the pump, the conduit, and the reservoir
AIM OF THE WORK:
The aim of this study was to assess left atrial function using 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and 3D transthoracic echocardiography in patients with moderate – severe mitral valve stenosis in comparison to normal healthy subjects.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This research comprised fifty-five patients with moderate to severe rheumatic mitral stenosis and fifty healthy controls. The 3D Left atrial volumes indexed to BSA, and EF were quantified, and the left atrial 2D speckle tracking echo parameters: left atrial strain reservoir (LASr), LA strain conduit (LAScd), and LA strain contraction (LASct) were generated using dedicated software.