Research Article
Said Khaled, Salah Demerdas
Abstract
Background: We sought to explore the accuracy of resting strain (S) and strain rate (SR) to predict viability following myocardial infarction, taking 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy as the 'gold standard' for diagnosis. Methods: We enrolled 60 consecutive patients presenting for myocardial viability assessment at least 4 weeks following ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. S and SR rate were individually measured for all myocardial segments at rest. Based on the results of scintigraphy, both strain and strain rate were compared between viable and non-viable segments in each individual segment position. Results: S was significantly higher in viable as compared with non-viable segments in the basal inferior, basal anteroseptal, basal posterior, as well as apical inferior positions (p <0.05 for all). Otherwise, no significant difference was found between the S of viable and non-viable segments in the rest of positions (p >0.05 for all). Similarly, SR was significantly higher in viable as compared with non-viable segments in the mid-lateral, mid- and apical anterior, apical inferior, as well as basal anteroseptal positions (p <0.05 for all). Otherwise, no significant difference was found between the SR of viable and non-viable segments in the rest of positions (p >0.05 for all). Conclusion: In patients undergoing viability assessment following ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, resting values of both S and SR have a poor diagnostic accuracy, taking 99mTc-sestamibi imaging as the gold standard.\r\n