Left Atrial Function: Doppler and Strain

The left atrium modulates left ventricular filling with its reservoir, conduit, and contractile functions. There is growing literature on the importance of a detailed assessment of left atrial function. This review article discusses the echocardiographic assessment of left atrial function by conventional parameters such as atrial size measurements, transmitral and pulmonary Doppler flow, mitral annular tissue velocities, as well as newer techniques such as regional strain and strain rate imaging by color tissue Doppler imaging and two-dimensional speckle tracking techniques. The clinical applications of these techniques in various conditions are discussed.