Impact of Right Ventricular Dilation on Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation in Patients After Surgical Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is 1 of the major determinants of late adverse clinical outcomes in patients after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that LV myocardial deformation is impaired in patients after TOF repair and related to right ventricular (RV) dilation and exercise capacity. Longitudinal, radial, and circumferential LV myocardial deformation was determined using speckle-tracking echocardiography in 23 postoperative patients with TOF and compared to that of 23 age-matched controls. Relations between LV strain and strain rate (SR) and RV volumes and exercise parameters were determined in patients. Compared to controls, patients had reduced global LV longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain (all p values <0.05). Patients with significantly increased RV end-systolic volume (>2 SDs higher than normal; n = 17) had reduced global LV circumferential strain (p = 0.048) and SR (p = 0.038), but similar longitudinal and radial speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters, compared to those without (n = 6). RV end-systolic volume was correlated inversely with global LV circumferential strain and SR (r = -0.58, p = 0.004, and r = -0.58, p = 0.005, respectively), while RV end-diastolic volume was correlated only with global LV circumferential strain (r = -0.43, p = 0.047). In patients, the LV ejection fraction was correlated with global LV circumferential strain (r = 0.54, p = 0.01) and SR (r = 0.66, p = 0.001) but not with longitudinal or radial speckle-tracking echocardiographic parameters. Using multivariate analysis, global LV circumferential SR (beta = 0.66, p = 0.001) and male gender (beta = 0.46, p = 0.012) were identified as independent predictors of peak oxygen consumption. In conclusion, the negative impact of RV dilation on LV function relates to its influence on LV circumferential strain and SR in patients after TOF repair.