Evolution of echocardiography in adult congenital heart disease: from pulsed-wave Doppler to fusion imaging

Impact of right ventricular stiffness on discordance between hemodynamic parameter and regurgitant volume in patients with pulmonary regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Accurate detection of significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is critical in management of patients after right ventricular (RV) outflow reconstruction in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) patients, because of its influence on adverse outcomes. Although pressure half time (PHT) of PR velocity is one of the widely used echocardiographic markers of the severity, shortened PHT is suggested to be seen in conditions with increased RV stiffness with mild PR. However, little has been reported about the exact characteristics of patients showing discrepancy between PHT and PR volume in this population.

METHODS

Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in 74 TOF patients after right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction [32 ± 10 years old]. PHT was measured from the continuous Doppler PR flow velocity profile and PHT < 100 ms was used as a sign of significant PR. Presence of end-diastolic RVOT forward flow was defined as RV restrictive physiology. By using phase-contrast MRI, forward and regurgitant volumes through the RVOT were measured and regurgitation fraction was calculated. Significant PR was defined as regurgitant fraction ≥ 25%.

RESULTS

Significant PR was observed in 54 of 74 patients. While PHT < 100 ms well predicted significant PR with sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 52%, and c-index of 0.72, 10 patients showed shortened PHT despite regurgitant fraction < 25% (discordant group). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction were comparable between discordant group and patients showing PHT < 100 ms and regurgitant fraction ≥ 25% (concordant group). However, discordant group showed significantly smaller mid RV diameter (30.7 ± 4.5 vs. 39.2 ± 7.3 mm, P < 0.001) and higher prevalence of restrictive physiology (100% vs. 42%, P < 0.01) than concordant group. When mid RV diameter ≥ 32 mm and presence of restrictive physiology were added to PHT, the predictive value was significantly improved (sensitivity: 81%, specificity: 90%, and c-index: 0.89, P < 0.001 vs. PHT alone by multivariable logistic regression model).

CONCLUSION

Patients with increased RV stiffness and non-enlarged right ventricle showed short PHT despite mild PR. Although it has been expected, this was the first study to demonstrate the exact characteristics of patients showing discrepancy between PHT and PR volume in TOF patients after RVOT reconstruction.