A novel echocardiographic right ventricular dysfunction score can identify hemodynamic severity profiles in left ventricular dysfunction.

PURPOSE: Recognition of congestion and hypoperfusion in patients with chronic left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) has therapeutic and prognostic implications. In the present study we hypothesized that a multiparameter echocardiographic grading of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) can facilitate the characterization of hemodynamic profiles. METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 105, age 53 ± 14 years, males 77%, LV ejection fraction 28 ± 11%) referred for heart transplant or heart failure work-up, with catheterization and echocardiography within 48 h, were reviewed retrospectively. Three hemodynamic profiles were defined: compensated LVD (cLVD, normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP < 15 mmHg) and normal mixed venous saturation (SvO2 ≥ 60%)); decompensated LVD (dLVD, with increased PCWP) and LV failure (LVF, increased PCWP and reduced SvO2). We established a 5-point RVD score including pulmonary hypertension, reduced tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, RV dilatation, ≥ moderate tricuspid regurgitation and increased right atrial pressure. RESULTS: The RVD score [median (IQR 25%;75%)] showed significant in-between the three groups differences with 1 (0;1), 1 (0.5;2) and 3.0 (2;3.5) in patients with cLVD, dLVD and LVF, respectively. The finding of RVD score ≥ 2 or ≥ 4 increased the likelihood of decompensation or LVF 5.2-fold and 6.7-fold, respectively. On the contrary, RVD score < 1 and < 2 reduced the likelihood 11.1-fold and 25-fold, respectively. The RVD score was more helpful than standard echocardiography regarding identification of hemodynamic profiles. CONCLUSIONS: In this proof of concept study an echocardiographic RVD score identified different hemodynamic severity profiles in patients with chronic LVD and reduced ejection fraction. Further studies are needed to validate its general applicability.

Grading right ventricular dysfunction in left ventricular disease using echocardiography: a proof of concept using a novel multiparameter strategy.

AIMS: Grading right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in patients with left ventricular (LV) disease has earned little attention. In the present study, we established an echocardiographic RVD score and investigated how increments of the score correspond to RVD at right heart catheterization. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 95 patients with LV disease consecutively referred for heart transplant or heart failure work-up with catheterization and echocardiography within 48 h. The RVD score (5 points) included well-known characteristics of the development from compensated to decompensated right ventricular (RV) function: pulmonary hypertension, reduced RV strain, RV area dilatation, moderate/severe tricuspid regurgitation, and increased right atrial pressure (RAP) by echocardiography. Comparing three groups with increments of RVD score [1 (mild), 2-3 (moderate), and 4-5 (severe)] showed more advanced RVD with increasing RV end-diastolic pressure (P < 0.001) and signs of uncoupling to load (reduced ratio between RV and pulmonary artery elastance, P < 0.001) and more spherical RV shape (RV area/length, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for detection of severe RV (RAP ≥ 10 mmHg) showed for the RVD score an area under the curve of 0.88 compared with 0.69, 0.68, and 0.64 for RV strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and fractional area change, respectively. A patient with RVD score ≥ 4 had a 6.7-fold increase in likelihood of severe RVD, and no patient with RVD score ≤ 1 had severe RVD. CONCLUSIONS: In this proof of concept study, a novel RVD score outperformed the widely used longitudinal parameters regarding grading of RVD severity, with a potential role for refined diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis assessment in heart failure patients.

Levosimendan or milrinone for right ventricular inotropic treatment?-A secondary analysis of a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of milrinone and levosimendan on right ventricular (RV) inotropy and lusitropy in patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis, a procedure in which an abnormal postoperative RV function may be seen. METHODS: In a prospective, blinded trial, 31 patients were randomized to receive either milrinone (0.4 and 0.8 µg/kg/min, n = 16) or levosimendan (0.1 and 0.2 µg/kg/min, n = 15) after AVR for aortic stenosis. RV performance, afterload (pulmonary arterial elastance), RV strain, systolic (SR-S) and early diastolic (SR-E) strain rate were measured by pulmonary artery thermodilution catheterization and transoesophageal two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. To circumvent the indirect effects of inodilator-induced hemodynamic changes on RV systolic and diastolic deformation, pulmonary arterial elastance, central venous pressure and heart rate were maintained constant by atrial pacing, plasma volume expansion with colloids and phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction during treatment with the inotropes. RESULTS: A dose-dependent increase in stroke volume index and cardiac index by approximately 20% were seen with both agents at the highest doses, with no difference between groups (P = .792 and 0.744, respectively). In both groups, RV strain and SR-S dose-dependently increased by 20% and 15%-19%, respectively, at the highest doses (P = .742 and 0.259, respectively) with no difference between groups. SR-E improved by both agents 20%-24% at the highest dose with no difference between groups (P = .714). CONCLUSIONS: The direct RV inotropic and lusitropic effects of levosimendan and milrinone were comparable at clinically relevant infusion rates.