Cardiac Shear Wave Elastography

Abstract

This dissertation focusses on ‘shear wave elastography’, a non-invasive technique that can potentially be used for the early detection of an increased stiffness of the myocardium in people with (an increased risk on) heart failure. The accurate measurement and interpretation of natural shear waves after valve closure are focused on in particular. The results show that the propagation speeds of these natural shear waves are not only affected by intrinsic characteristics of the myocardium (passive myocardial stiffness, relaxation and contraction), but also by the hemodynamic load