Key result
Preoperative normal global longitudinal strain (≤-18.9%) identified patients with better postoperative recovery of LV morphology and systolic function than abnormal GLS (Hedges g >0.75).
Why the study?
LVEF <50% mainly identifies advanced aortic stenosis, whereas global longitudinal strain can identify subclinical systolic dysfunction earlier; researchers evaluated whether preoperative LVGLS predicts postoperative LV reverse remodeling.
Does normal preoperative LVGLS predict improved postoperative LV reverse remodeling in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved LVEF undergoing surgery?
Cohort (n=39)
Does normal preoperative LVGLS predict improved postoperative LV reverse remodeling in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved LVEF undergoing surgery?
Standardized Mean Difference: 0.75
Preoperative global longitudinal strain can identify patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved LVEF who are likely to experience better left ventricular reverse remodeling after surgery.
Preoperative GLS may help identify AS patients likely to achieve better postoperative LV recovery; leaves open whether it should guide surgical timing.
INTRODUCTION: The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is commonly used as a marker of aortic stenosis (AS) disease severity and to indicate surgical intervention. However, an LVEF <50% identifies mainly advanced disease. Hence, earlier detection of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction may improve clinical decision-making. The global longitudinal strain (GLS) can identify subclinical systolic dysfunction at earlier stages of AS progression even in the presence of preserved LVEF. To this end, we evaluated the preoperative prognostic significance of the LVGLS to identify patients who will undergo a more extensive postoperative LV reverse remodeling as a surrogate marker for clinical recovery. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study based on detailed pre- and postoperative 2D transthoracic echocardiographic examinations, including strain analysis with speckle tracking. We screened 60 consecutive patients with severe AS and a preoperative LVEF ≥50% indicated for surgery; 39 patients met the study entry criteria and consented to their participation. RESULTS: The median age was 67 (range 30-79) years; 56.4% were female. At baseline, the GLS was 61.64±7.22%. Surgery led to an improvement in the GLS; the mean difference was 3.23% [95% CI=1.96 to 4.49%] during a median follow up time of 5 (interquartile range 4-6) months. The preoperative GLS correlated with the postoperative LV mass index (LVMI) r=0.526, P=0.001 and the intraventricular septal thickness in diastole (IVSd) r=0.462, P=0.003. Furthermore, patients with a normal GLS (≤-18.9%) at baseline experienced a better recovery of their LV morphology and systolic function during the postoperative course compared to those with an abnormal GLS (>-18.9%). The effect size, hedges g, was at least >0.75 for the LVMI, IVSd, intraventricular septal thickness in systole (IVSs), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (LVPWd) and LVEF, suggesting a clinically significant difference between subgroups at follow-up. CONCLUSION: A normal preoperative left ventricular global longitudinal strain is associated with an improved left ventricular reverse remodeling and systolic function following surgery to resolve aortic stenosis.
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Zafirovska et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Severe aortic stenosis (n=39). Normal preoperative global longitudinal strain (≤-18.9%) vs. Abnormal preoperative global longitudinal strain (>-18.9%) was evaluated on Postoperative recovery of LV morphology and systolic function (LVMI, IVSd, IVSs, LVPWd, LVEF) (Hedges g >0.75). Preoperative normal global longitudinal strain (≤-18.9%) identified patients with better postoperative recovery of LV morphology and systolic function than abnormal GLS (Hedges g >0.75).
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