Effect of chronic right ventricular volume overload on ventricular interaction in patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair

Andreea Dragulescu, Mark K. Friedberg, Lars Grosse-Wortmann, Andrew Redington, Luc Mertens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Right ventricular (RV) volume overload results in RV dilatation and dysfunction in patients with pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) repair, affecting left ventricular (LV) function because of ventricular interaction. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of chronic RV volume loading on LV myocardial mechanics in patients after ToF repair by combining cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with echocardiography. Methods Seventy-five subjects were studied: 50 patients after ToF repair and 25 age-matched controls. All patients with ToF and controls underwent echocardiography at the time of clinically indicated cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Myocardial deformation, including LV torsion, was analyzed using speckle-tracking echocardiography. Results RV free wall global and segmental longitudinal strain and strain rate were significantly lower in patients with ToF compared with controls (P <.001). All LV longitudinal, strain, and torsion parameters were significantly reduced in patients with ToF (P <.01). Basal rotation was particularly abnormal, with 38% of patients with ToF having reversed basal rotation. In contrast, apical rotation was reduced but not reversed. On multivariate regression analysis, the only significant predictor of counterclockwise basal rotation was RV strain, suggesting that RV function more than dilatation influences abnormal LV torsion. Conclusion Patients with ToF have abnormal LV myocardial mechanics, as demonstrated by speckle-tracking echocardiography. The most striking changes were noted in LV torsion, especially related to abnormal LV basal rotation. RV dysfunction seems the most important determinant of abnormal LV rotation. The clinical significance and potential prognostic implications of these observations remain to be determined.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)896-902
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the American Society of Echocardiography
Volume27
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Left ventricular torsion
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Ventricular interaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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