Mardson de Araújo Medeiros et al. Rodrigo Pinto Pedrosa Carlos Antonio da Mota Silveira Jose Maria Del Castillo
Abstract
Evaluation of left atrial function is currently an emerging method that may be related to patient prognosis. Classically, the static measures of diameter, area and volume are the most used for this purpose. The technique known as speckle tracking is capable of providing dynamic information of the left atrium throughout the cardiac cycle, as well as detecting abnormalities in left atrial function in subclinical phases, before volumetric increases or diastolic dysfunctions occur. Normality values for speckle tracking are being proposed, but the methodological differences and techniques make it difficult to standardize them. This literature review aims to discuss progress in the analysis of left atrial function, especially via speckle tracking.