Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of left atrial size and function and the normal range of asynchrony in
Francisco Azar1, Leopoldo Pérez de Isla, Mar Moreno
1Unidad de Imagen Cardiovascular. Hospital Clínico San Carlos. Madrid. España.
Insights
Three-dimensional echocardiography can assess left atrial size, function, and mechanical synchrony. This study establishes normal reference values for these parameters in healthy individuals using this advanced imaging technique.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Left atrial size and function are critical prognostic indicators in cardiovascular health.
- Assessing left atrial mechanical synchrony is essential for understanding cardiac performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate left atrial size, function, and mechanical synchrony.
- To establish normal reference values using three-dimensional echocardiography.
- To investigate the utility of 3D echocardiography in analyzing left atrial mechanics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography in 63 healthy participants.
- Assessed left atrial mechanical asynchrony via normalized standard deviation of segmental minimum volume time.
- Calculated mean normalized standard deviation for left atrial mechanical synchrony.
Main Results:
- Established normal reference values for left atrial size, function, and mechanical synchrony.
- Determined the mean normalized standard deviation for mechanical asynchrony was 15.4+/-10.9.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of analyzing left atrial mechanical asynchrony with 3D echocardiography.
Conclusions:
- Three-dimensional echocardiography is a viable tool for assessing left atrial size, function, and mechanical synchrony.
- This study provides crucial reference values for normal left atrial mechanics.
- 3D echocardiography enhances the comprehensive evaluation of left atrial performance.
Abstract:
Left atrial size and function are very important prognostic factors. Our aim was to evaluate left atrial size, function and mechanical synchrony using three-dimensional echocardiography in order to establish normal reference values. The study involved 63 healthy individuals enrolled at two hospitals. All underwent two-dimensional and three-dimensional echocardiography. Mechanical asynchrony was assessed by determining the standard deviation of the time each left atrial segment took to reach the minimum volume during atrial systole, normalized by the RR interval. The mean value for this normalized standard deviation was 15.4+/-10.9. In conclusion, it is possible to analyze left atrial asynchrony, size and function using three-dimensional echocardiography.
