Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking of the Fetal Heart: A Practical Step-by-Step Approach for the Fetal Sonologist

Abstract

Various approaches to 2-dimensional speckle tracking have been used to evaluate left ventricular function and deformation in the fetus, child, and adult. In 2015, because of differences in imaging devices and analytical programs, the cardiology community published a consensus document proposing standards for pediatric/adult deformation imaging using 2-dimensional speckle tracking. The understanding and application of deformation imaging in the fetus have been limited by a lack of uniform software, terminology, techniques, and display. This article provides a practical, step-by-step approach for deformation analysis of the fetal heart using offline software that is independent of specific ultrasound vendors.

Keywords: fetal echocardiography; obstetric ultrasound; speckle tracking; strain.