Abstract Introduction Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is an advanced imaging technique for assessing myocardial function, which is more sensitive and specific than standard parameters in detecting subtle changes in myocardial function. Purpose We evaluated global and regional left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) function changes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using standard and advanced echocardiographic techniques. Methods The study group included 83 patients (72 men, 11 women; mean age 65,1±8,4 years) scheduled for CABG due to multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). All patients underwent pre- and postoperative transthoracic echocardiographic examinations (TTE). Offline analysis of global functional parameters was performed, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), global systolic longitudinal strain (GLS), and global peak longitudinal strain (GPLS). Regional systolic and diastolic left ventricular function was analyzed by measuring peak systolic strain rate (SRS), peak diastolic longitudinal strain rate in the early (SRe) and late phase (SRa), and the post-systolic index (PSI). LA strain was also assessed. During the 2nd examination (7,9±3 days), 68 patients had sufficient image quality for analysis. 42 patients attended the 3rd examination (9±2,3 months). 30 patients attended the 4th examination (60,3±5,1 months). Results were compared to the 1st examination. Nine deaths were recorded in the study group. Results The mean baseline LVEF was 46±10%. During 2nd TTE, we noticed a reduction of LVEF to 41±10% (p=0.0016). LVEF remained reduced during the 3rd TTE, but returned to baseline at the 4th examination (50±8%). There was a significant decrease in global strain parameters observed during 2nd TTE. GLS decreased from -12,63±3,5% to -10,61±5,25% (p<0.0001), and GPLS from -13,46±3,4% to -11,77±4,52% (p<0.0001). Global strain parameters recovered at the 3rd and 4th examinations, with no significant differences from the 1st examination. Regional systolic and diastolic deformation parameters followed a similar trend, though only SRS showed a significant persistent reduction during the 4th TTE (0,73±0,15/s) compared to the 1st (0,82±0,17/s, p=0.0290). CABG did not impact LA function. Conclusion CABG leads to a significant postoperative decrease in global longitudinal LV deformation, which recovers over the long term. Revascularized territories show a similar trend. Recovery of global and regional strain parameters occurs earlier than LVEF recovery. CABG does not significantly impact LA function as assessed by STE.
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