Transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation of cardiac remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate post-thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) cardiac remodeling with transthoracic echocardiography. Patients and methods: Thirty-two patients (27 males, 5 females; mean age: 61±12.8 years; range, 27 to 85 years) who underwent TEVAR, with an Ishimura zone 3 proximal landing zone, due to thoracic aortic aneurysm were retrospectively evaluated between January 2019 and January 2023. Pre- and postprocedural transthoracic echocardiography data of the patients were compared. Measurements of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, interventricular septum, and ascending aorta were performed. Results: The mean follow-up period was 23.7±8.4 months. There was a significant increase in interventricular septum measurements (p=0.041). In addition, a significant decrement was observed in the comparison of left ventricular ejection fraction values (p=0.01). There was no difference found at the pre- and post-TEVAR ascending aortic diameters or valvular regurgitation in aortic valves. Conclusion: Despite our evaluation being conducted in a limited patient population, our findings suggest that the stiffening of the aortic structure after TEVAR has a negative impact on cardiac remodeling. Consequently, it is imperative to explore new and more flexible designs for thoracic endograft structures.