Comparison of Two Methods of Strain by Perioperative Transesophageal Echo in CABG : An Observational Study

There is an increasing need for diagnostic modalities able to objectively quantify myocardial function. Quantification of regional myocardial function with ultrasound is challenging on its own. Visual assessment of wall motion and thickening requires extensive training \[1\] and remains highly subjective \[2\]. Tissue deformation imaging is a recently introduced technique which enables the objective assessment of regional myocardial deformation assessed by ultrasound based strain and strain rate using Doppler Tissue Imaging or Speckle tracking. There are limited number of studies comparing the myocardial deformation parameters (i.e. Strain and Strain rate) by 2 different echocardiographic techniques viz Doppler tissue imaging and Speckle tracking in the perioperative period. In this study, we plan to study the above said parameters in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting using transesophageal echocardiography and correlate these parameters with cardiac output by thermodilution method using pulmonary artery catheter.