Preoperative Left Ventricular Systolic Function Research Articles

Outcome in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing isolated surgical aortic valve replacement

Background: The risk scoring systems used in cardiac surgery (including EuroSCORE II) include only insulin-dependent diabetes. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a marker of poor prognosis after surgical myocardial revascularization, but its impact in patients with isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has not been well established. Aim: We aimed to analyze differences in outcomes and surgical risk in patients with and without type 2 DM (T2DM), which underwent SAVR. Material and methods: We included retrospectively the patients hospitalized for SAVR between January 2000 and June 2014 in Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Cardiovascular Diseases Institute. Preoperative parameters and early postoperative outcome in patients with and without T2DM were compared. Results: A number of 1191 patients were included (65.4±13 years; 67.8% men); 144 (12.07%) out of those were with T2DM. Biological prostheses were performed in 22% of patients. Mean age was higher in T2DM group (p=0.005). The mean EuroSCORE II risk score was 5.49±0.63 in T2DM and 4.89±0.17 in non-T2DM patients (p=0.579). In these 2 groups, preoperative left ventricular systolic function was comparable. Mean values of cardiopulmonary bypass time were 137.88±5.71 minutes in T2DM, 149.48±4.8 minutes in non-T2DM patients (p=0.714). The need of inotropic therapy was an important predictor for postoperative evolution (6±2 days in non-T2DM and 15±4 days in T2DM; p=0.008). Conclusions: Patients with T2DM undergoing SAVR have a non-significantly higher operative risk score comparing with non-T2DM patients. In spite of this, T2DM seems to be a risk factor that could worsen the postoperative outcome, by requiring prolonged inotropic treatment.

Preoperative left ventricular function in degenerative mitral valve disease

The aim of the study is to determine the impact of the underlying etiology (Barlow's disease or fibroelastic deficiency) on left ventricular function in patients with degenerative mitral valve disease and severe mitral regurgitation. We studied 233 patients (mean age: 53.8 ± 12.9) undergoing surgery for severe mitral regurgitation due to degenerative mitral valve disease at Almazov Federal Heart Centre between 2009 and 2011. Pathologic diagnoses for valvular tissue specimens were provided by an experienced pathologist. Preoperative strain and strain rate were determined using speckle tracking (Vivid 7 Dimension, EchoPAC'08). Barlow's disease was identified by the pathologist in 60 patients (25.8%), and fibroelastic deficiency in 173 patients (74.2%). There were no significant differences between groups in preoperative mitral regurgitation volume (70.5 ± 9.6 vs. 71.6 ± 8.5 ml, P = 0.40), and in global systolic (ejection fraction: 52.7 ± 6.6 vs. 52.0 ± 7.4%, P = 0.53) and diastolic (E/e': 12.2 ± 3.9 vs. 12.8 ± 4.2, P = 0.35) left ventricular function. Despite the lack of difference in ejection fraction and diastolic tissue Doppler parameters, in patients with Barlow's disease in comparison with fibroelastic deficiency a significant decrease of the left ventricular longitudinal systolic strain (-13.5 ± 2.2 vs. -15.6 ± 2.3%, P = 0.00001) and early diastolic strain rate (1.04 ± 0.20 vs. 1.14 ± 0.18 s, P = 0.0004) were detected. Patients with severe mitral regurgitation due to Barlow's disease have a lower preoperative left ventricular systolic function than those with fibroelastic deficiency, which may affect their postoperative prognosis.

Left ventricular function in mitral valve prolapse and severe mitral regurgitation

Aim. To assess systolic left ventricular (LV) function in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and different morphological MV disorders. Material and methods. The study included 233 patients (mean age 53,8±12,9 years), who underwent MV surgery due to MPV and severe mitral regurgitation (MR) at the V. A. Almazov Federal Centre of Heart, Blood, and Endocrinology in 2009-2011. The resected MV segments underwent a pathomorphological examination; preoperative strain and strain rate were assessed with the speckle tracking method (EchoPAC’08). Results. Based on the pathomorphological data, Barlow’s disease was registered in 60 patients (25,8%), and fibroelastic deficiency in 173 patients (74,2%). The preintervention echocardiography did not demonstrate any significant difference between the two groups in terms of preoperative MR volume (70,5±9,6 ml vs. 71,6±8,5 ml, p=0,40), systolic LV function (ejection fraction 52,7±6,6% vs. 52,0±7,4%; p=0,53) and diastolicLV function (E/e’ 12,2±3,9 vs. 12,8±4,2; p=0,35). Despite no difference in ejection fraction, the Barlow’s disease group demonstrated a significant reduction inLV longitudinal systolic (-13,5±2,2% vs. -16,6±2,3%; p=0,008) and diastolic strain (1,14±0,20 s-1 vs. 1,34±0,18 s-1; p=0,04), as well as in strain rate (-0.89±0,15 s-1 vs. -1,14±0,15 s-1; p=0,002), compared to the fibroelastic deficiency group. Conclusion. Patients with Barlow’s disease, compared to patients with fibroelastic deficiency, have a lower preoperative LV systolic function, which might affect the postoperative long-term survival rates. The deteriorated LV function could be due to the damage of endocardial and intramyocardial extracellular matrix in Barlow’s disease.

Prediction of postoperative left ventricular systolic function in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation undergoing valve surgery ??? the role of deformation imaging

Preoperative left ventricular systolic function is an important prognostic factor in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Preoperative myocardial deformation may be impaired without reduction in conventional indices such as ejection fraction (EF). Strain rate (SR) imaging is very sensitive in detecting regional systolic abnormalities and might allow diagnosis of subclinical changes in systolic left ventricular (LV) function before surgery. We aimed to investigate the value of preoperative regional myocardial peak systolic SR as a predictor of postoperative LV systolic function in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing surgery. A total of 62 patients (age 52±12) with chronic severe MR, who underwent mitral valve repair, were studied. A standard echo examination, extended with tissue Doppler, was performed before and at 12 months after surgery. For the evaluation of longitudinal function, mid-ventricular segment shortening was analysed for the septum, LV lateral wall and anterior and inferior walls. Patients were divided into two groups based on postoperative EF: group 1 with EF(post-op)>50% and group 2 with EF(post-op)<50%. Group 1 had a significantly (p=0.004) higher preoperative SR (LV lateral wall: -1.97±0.26s(-1); septum: -1.74±0.31s(-1); anterior wall: -1.94±0.30s(-1), inferior wall: -1.93±0.29s(-1)) compared to group 2 (LV lateral wall: -0.98±0.23s(-1); septum: -0.98±0.26s(-1); anterior wall: -0.94±0.30s(-1), inferior wall: -1.00±0.24s(-1)). When SR was corrected for size, the SR/EDV index (EDV is end diastolic volume) also showed significant changes (p=0.0007) at baseline between the groups. For detecting subclinical changes in deformation of the LV lateral wall, a cut-off value of the SR/EDV index<0.006 had 89% sensitivity and 93% specificity; for the anterior wall, SR/EDV index<0.005 had 88% sensitivity and 94% specificity. SR imaging (corrected for geometry) can detect abnormalities in LV function at subclinical levels in patients with severe mitral regurgitation.

Asymptomatic Aortic Regurgitation: Indications for Operation

Left ventricular (LV) systolic function is an important determinant of long-term prognosis in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation. In patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR), those with preoperative LV dysfunction have a greater risk of postoperative congestive heart failure and death than do those in whom preoperative LV systolic function is normal. Patients with preoperative LV dysfunction are not a homogeneous group, however, but may be further stratified according to risk on the basis of the severity of symptoms, exercise intolerance, and temporal duration of LV dysfunction. Hence, asymptomatic patients with reproducible and definite evidence of impaired LV function should undergo operation without waiting for the development of symptoms or more severe LV dysfunction. Among asymptomatic patients with normal LV systolic function (normal ejection fraction and fractional shortening), the prognosis is excellent with only a gradual rate of deterioration during conservative, nonoperative management. The long-term follow-up experience of such patients indicates that the annual mortality rate is less than 0.5% and that less than 4% per year require AVR because symptoms or LV dysfunction at rest develop. Patients likely to require operation over a 10-year period because symptoms or LV dysfunction develop can be identified on the basis of age, severity of LV dilatation by echocardiography, and progressive change in LV dimensions or resting ejection fraction during the course of serial follow-up studies. Patients at risk of sudden death before surgery is performed may be identified by extreme LV dilatation (diastolic dimension > 80 mm, systolic dimension > 55 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of Preoperative Left Ventricular Function With Postoperative Left Ventricular Response to Exercise in Patients With Chronic Aortic Regurgitation and Aortic Stenosis

The relation between preoperative left ventricular (LV) systolic function at rest and postoperative LV response to exercise was assessed in 13 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and nine patients with aortic stenosis (AS). Preoperative end-systolic volume index (ESVI) and ejection fraction (EF) determined by LV angiography were compared with postoperative exercise-induced changes of LV fractional shortening (delta %FS) and mean velocity of fiber shortening (delta mVcf) assessed by echocardiography. Preoperative EF and ESVI in 13 patients with AR correlated well with postoperative delta %FS and delta mVcf. Similarly, preoperative EF and ESVI in nine patients with AS correlated well with postoperative delta %FS and delta mVcf. Our study demonstrated that preoperative LV systolic function in AR and AS patients closely reflected postoperative LV response to exercise. Preoperative smaller ESVI will be warranted to expect a favorably good postoperative LV response to exercise.

Reversal of left ventricular dysfunction after aortic valve replacement for chronic aortic regurgitation: influence of duration of preoperative left ventricular dysfunction.

Preoperative left ventricular systolic function is an important predictor of postoperative prognosis in patients with aortic regurgitation. Although left ventricular dysfunction is reversible after aortic valve replacement to a greater extent in patients with good preoperative exercise capacity compared with patients with impaired exercise capacity, not all patients with preserved exercise capacity demonstrate improved left ventricular function after aortic valve replacement. To determine the influence of duration of preoperative left ventricular dysfunction on postoperative reversal of left ventricular dysfunction, we studied 37 patients with aortic regurgitation who preoperatively had left ventricular dysfunction, defined as subnormal echocardiographic fractional shortening (less than 29%), and good preoperative exercise capacity, defined as completion of stage I of the NIH treadmill protocol without limiting symptoms. Eight patients were asymptomatic. In 11 patients left ventricular dysfunction was documented 18 to 57 months preoperatively (prolonged); in 10 patients left ventricular dysfunction developed in an interval of 14 months or less preoperatively (brief); in 16 patients duration of left ventricular dysfunction was unknown. Patients with brief vs those with prolonged left ventricular dysfunction did not differ with respect to severity of preoperative symptoms or exercise tolerance, echocardiographically determined left ventricular dimensions or fractional shortening (25 +/- 3% [SD] vs 25 +/- 3%), or radionuclide angiographic ejection fraction (42 +/- 5% vs 42 +/- 5%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)