In 2D echocardiography, what does "global longitudinal strain" assess?

Global longitudinal strain is a valuable measurement used in 2D echocardiography to assess the deformation of the left ventricle’s myocardium throughout the cardiac cycle. It provides insights into the contractile function of the heart muscle by quantifying how much the myocardial fibers shorten or lengthen longitudinally. This is particularly important in detecting subtle changes in cardiac function that may not be evident with conventional imaging techniques, especially in conditions like heart failure or prior to the onset of overt left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

The measurement is typically represented as a percentage, with negative values indicating contraction and positive values denoting dilation. By assessing global longitudinal strain, clinicians can evaluate overall left ventricular performance and identify areas of dysfunction that could be related to ischemic heart disease, hypertension, or other cardiac conditions. This information can assist in risk stratification and management of patients, making it a critical aspect of echocardiographic evaluation.