Evaluation of left ventricle systolic functions with 2D strain echocardiography after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVE: There is deterioration in global left ventricular (LV) longitudinal function in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis, and the decrease in LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) is associated with worsening prognosis. The aim of the study is to examine LV mechanical changes with LV strain imaging in addition to routine examination in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: Fifty patients who had been scheduled for the TAVR procedure between 2016 and 2018 were enrolled. The patients were evaluated before TAVR, 1 and 6 months after the procedure. The patients' LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LVGLS, LV mass (LVM), LV mass index (LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) were calculated with transthoracic echocardiography. The patients' performance scores were evaluated with Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-12). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were female (52%), and the mean ages of patients were 75.30 ± 12.26 years. The mean LVEF of the patients was measured at 54.04 ± 13.48%, 58.10 ± 11.49%, and 59.36 ± 11.85 preprocedure and at first and 6 months, respectively. This increase in LVEF was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean LVGLS was measured -15.83 ± 2.78 preprocedure. The means of LVGLS were -18.73 ± 3.49 and -19.87 ± 4.05 at first and 6 months, respectively. Performance scores of patients significantly improved after the procedure (p < 0.001). The significant decreases in LVM, LVMI, RWT, and LAVI at 6 months compared to the preprocedural evaluation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In severe aortic stenosis with deformation of LV myocardial mechanics, including GLS, a successful TAVR procedure provides a significant improvement in myocardial mechanics in early and midterm follow-up with.