Patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy showed significantly lower right ventricular free-wall strain than those without residual PH (16.2% vs 21.9%, p=0.047).
Observational (n=20)
No
Does postoperative echocardiographic RV strain correlate with invasive hemodynamics and detect persistent RV dysfunction in patients with CTEPH after pulmonary endarterectomy?
Echocardiographic RV strain is a sensitive, non-invasive marker that strongly correlates with invasive hemodynamics and reveals persistent RV dysfunction in over half of CTEPH patients after pulmonary endarterectomy.
Absolute Event Rate: 16.2% vs 21.9%
p-value: p=0.047
Abstract Background Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH, Group 4 PH) is potentially curable by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). However, a substantial proportion of patients show persistent pulmonary hypertension (PH) and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction despite successful surgery. Echocardiographic strain analysis of the RV and right atrium (RA) enables the detection of subtle functional abnormalities and may provide additional insight beyond invasive hemodynamic assessment. Methods We performed a retrospective, single-centre study including all consecutive patients with CTEPH who underwent PEA. Postoperative echocardiograms were reviewed for RV and RA strain analysis. Patients with suboptimal image quality were excluded. Strain parameters were correlated with right heart catheterization (RHC) performed 6–12 months after surgery. Results Of 39 patients who underwent PEA, 20 met inclusion criteria (mean age 58.7 ± 15.4 years, 60% female). Residual PH was confirmed in 37% by RHC. Compared with patients without residual PH, those with residual PH showed significantly lower RV strain values: RV free-wall strain (StFW) 16.2 ± 6.6 vs 21.9 ± 5.2 %, p = 0.047; global RV strain (StRV) 14.8 ± 6.5 vs 19.5 ± 2.9 %, p=0.037; and basal segment strain 16.3 ± 7.7 vs 26.2 ± 8.5 %, p=0.025. No significant differences were observed in mid- or apical-segment strain or in RA strain values (RA reservoir 29.1 ± 9.8 vs 32.4 ± 8.6 %, p = ns). Overall, RV strain failed to recover in 55% of patients and RA strain in 15%. Non-recovery was associated with higher pulmonary pressures at follow-up RHC. Significant correlations were found between StFW and mean pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.52, p=0.02), right-ventricular diastolic pressure (r=0.46, p=0.04), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r=0.54, p=0.01), and cardiac output (r=0.52, p=0.02). Global RV strain correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r=0.62, p=0.003), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r=0.61, p=0.004), mean pulmonary artery pressure (r = 0.78, p = 0.001), wedge pressure (r=0.66, p=0.02), transpulmonary gradient (r = 0.61, p=0.004), right-ventricular pressure (r=0.67, p=0.002), and right-ventricular tension (r=0.72, p=0.001). Conclusion After PEA, RV strain, particularly free-wall and basal-segment strain, remains impaired in more than half of patients, despite normalization of invasive hemodynamic indices. Strain parameters strongly correlate with catheterization data but frequently fail to normalize, suggesting incomplete or delayed myocardial recovery relative to hemodynamic improvement. Chronic pressure overload may result in irreversible structural remodeling or fibrosis. RV strain therefore emerges as a sensitive, non-invasive marker of persistent RV dysfunction and residual pulmonary hypertension after surgical treatment of CTEPH.
Brochado et al. (Fri,) conducted a observational in Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) (n=20). Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) vs. Patients without residual pulmonary hypertension was evaluated on Right ventricular free-wall strain (StFW) (p=0.047). Patients with residual pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy showed significantly lower right ventricular free-wall strain than those without residual PH (16.2% vs 21.9%, p=0.047).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: