3 8 mhz sector ultrasound transducer

Echocardiographic assessment was conducted by one investigator using a Philips iE33 xMatrix or a Philips Epiq 7G ultrasound device (Philips Healthcare, The Netherlands) with a 1–5 or a 3–8 MHz sector ultrasound transducer (Philips Healthcare, The Netherlands). Three consecutive loops were recorded under constant ECG-tracking and heart rate (bpm) was determined. Images were transferred to an offline workstation (IntelliSpace Cardiovascular Ultrasound Viewer, Philips Healthcare, The Netherlands) for analysis. Analysis for two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) was conducted on a separate workstation (QLAB cardiovascular ultrasound quantification software, version 11.1, Philips Healthcare, The Netherlands). The offline assessment of LV systolic function was performed by one investigator for both groups.

Echocardiographic assessment was performed for all study participants by one investigator. Echocardiographic images were acquired using a Philips iE33 xMatrix or a Philips Epiq 7G ultrasound device (Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) with a 1–5 MHz or a 3–8 MHz sector ultrasound transducer (Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Echocardiography was performed under constant three-lead ECG tracking. Three consecutive loops were recorded and transferred to an offline workstation for further analysis (IntelliSpace Cardiovascular Ultrasound Viewer, Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). The echocardiographic offline analysis was performed by one investigator for all study participants.