Maturational Patterns of Systolic Ventricular Deformation Mechanics by Two-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Preterm Infants over the First Year of Age

•Two-dimensional (2D) speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE)–derived myocardial strain is a feasible and reproducible imaging modality that can be used to characterize systolic ventricular function in premature infants.•This study establishes ventricular-specific systolic strain maturational patterns by 2D STE in a large cohort of extremely preterm infants from birth through 1 year corrected age.•Common cardiopulmonary morbidities, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension, appear to leave a negative impact on right ventricular strain, while left ventricular strain remains stable through the first year of age.•With the establishment of the range of maturational patterns of strain mechanics and associated variations up to 1 year corrected age, deformation imaging by 2D STE may now be implemented in preterm infants as a means to identify cardiovascular compromise earlier, guide therapeutic intervention, monitor treatment response, and improve overall outcome.