Shear wave echocardiography

In this thesis we demonstrate that the assessment of the diastolic function of the left ventricle withclassical echocardiography remains challenging, gives incomplete answers in a significant proportion of patients and has insufficient sensitivity for early detection of cardiac abnormalities. In an effort to overcome the gaps of our present day echocardiographic algorithms, we propose a new way of investigating the properties of the left ventricle, by using high frame rate shear wave imaging. Shear wave imaging offers a potential way of remotely ’’touching’’ the myocardium and measuring its stiffness. We prove that cardiac shear wave imaging is feasible and can be used in order to answer relevant clinical questions. Further research and technological development, starting from the basis we lay out in this thesis, may lead to a completely new way of looking at the heart function.

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