Right ventricular remodelling after transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation

Objectives To define the optimal timing for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) in patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) after Fallot's Tetralogy (ToF) correction. Background PPVI among the aforementioned patients is mainly driven by symptoms or by severe right ventricular (RV) dilatation/dysfunction. The optimal timing for PPVI is still disputed. Methods Twenty patients [age 13.9 ± 9.2 years, (range 4.3–44.9), male 70%] with severe PR (≥3 grade) secondary to previous correction of ToF, underwent Melody valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) implantation, after a pre‐stent placement. Full echocardiographic assessment (traditional and deformation analysis) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance evaluation were performed before and at 3 months after the intervention. ‘Favorable remodelling’ was considered the upper quartile of RV size decrease (>20% in 3 months). Results After PPVI, indexed RV effective stroke volume increased from 38.4 ± 9.5 to 51.4 ± 10.7 mL/m 2 , ( P = 0.005), while RV end‐diastolic volume and strain indices decreased (123.1 ± 24.1–101.5 ± 18.3 mL/m 2 , P = 0.005 and −23.5 ± 2.5 to −21 ± 2.5%, P = 0.002, respectively). After inserting pre‐PPVI clinical, RV volumetric and deformation parameters in a multiple regression model, only time after last surgical correction causing PR remained as significant regressor of RV remodelling [ R 2 = 0.60, beta = 0.387, 95%CI(0.07–0.7), P = 0.019]. Volume reduction and functional improvement were more pronounced in patients treated with PPVI earlier than 7 years after last RV outflow tract (RVOT) correction, reaching close‐to‐normal values. Conclusions Early PPVI (<7 years after last RVOT operation) is associated with a more favorable RV reverse remodelling toward normal range and should be considered, before symptoms or RV damage become apparent.