Reverse Septal Movement: A Step Forward in the Comprehension of the Underlying Causes.

(1) Background: Reverse septal movement (RSM) often occurs after cardiac surgery, consisting of a paradoxical systolic movement of the interventricular septum. In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate possible determinants of RSM after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). (2) Methods: Patients who underwent CABG with on- or off-pump techniques at our center from March 2019 to October 2021 were retrospectively included. Exclusion criteria were: exposure to combined procedures (e.g., valve implantation), prior cardiac surgery, intraventricular conduction delays, and previous pacemaker implantation. Laboratory tests and echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration data were collected. (3) Results: We enrolled 138 patients, of whom 32 (23.2%) underwent off-pump CABG. Approximately 89.1% of the population was male; the mean age was 70 ± 11 years. There was no difference in RSM incidence in patients undergoing the off-pump and on-pump techniques (71.9% vs. 62.3%; p = 0.319). In patients undergoing on-pump surgery, the incidence of RSM was slightly higher in longer CPB procedures (OR 1.02 (1.00-1.03) p = 0.012), and clamping aortic time was also greater (OR 1.02 (1.00-1.03) p = 0.042). (4) Conclusions: CPB length seems to be correlated with a higher RSM appearance. This better knowledge of RSM reinforces the safety of CABG and its neutral effect on global biventricular function.

Myocardial work and left heart deformation parameters across primary mitral regurgitation severity.

AIMS: Myocardial work (MW) estimation by pressure-strain loops using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has shown to evaluate left ventricular (LV) contraction overcoming the load-dependency limit of LV global longitudinal strain (GLS). This has proved useful in hemodynamic variation settings e.g. heart failure and valvular heart disease. However, the variation of MW and strain parameters across different stages of primary mitral regurgitation (MR) and its impact on symptoms, which was the aim of our study, has never been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients with mild, moderate and severe MR were prospectively enrolled. Exclusion criteria were: chronic atrial fibrillation, valvular heart prosthesis, previous cardiac surgery. Clinical evaluation, blood sample tests, ECG and echocardiography with STE and MW measurement were performed. Patients were then divided into groups according to MR severity. Differences among the groups and predictors of symptoms (as NYHA class≥2) were explored as study endpoints. Overall, 180 patients were enrolled (60 mild,60 moderate,60 severe MR). LV GLS and global peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) reduced according to MR severity. Global constructive work (GCW) and global wasted work (GWW) significantly improved, while global work efficiency (GWE) reduced, in patients with moderate and severe MR. Among echocardiographic parameters, global PALS emerged as the best predictor of NYHA class (p < 0.001;area under curve,AUC = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: MW parameters accurately describe the pathophysiology of MR, with initial attempt of LV increased contractility to compensate volume overload parallel to the disease progress, although with low efficacy, while global PALS is the most associated with the burden of MR symptoms.

Myocardial Work Indices Predict Hospitalization in Patients with Advanced Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: An increasing proportion of heart failure (HF) patients progress to the advanced stage (AdHF) with high event rates and limited treatment options. Echocardiography, particularly Speckle Tracking-derived myocardial work (MW), is useful for HF diagnosis and prognosis. We aimed to assess MW's feasibility in the prognostic stratification of AdHF. METHODS: We retrospectively screened patients with AdHF who accessed our hospital in 2018-2022. We excluded subjects with inadequate acoustic windows; unavailable brachial artery cuff pressure at the time of the echocardiography; atrial fibrillation; and mitral or aortic regurgitation. We measured standard parameters and left ventricular (LV) strain (LS) and MW. The population was followed up to determine the composite outcomes of all-cause mortality, left ventricular assist device implantation and heart transplantation (primary endpoint), as well as unplanned HF hospitalization (secondary endpoint). RESULTS: We enrolled 138 patients, prevalently males (79.7%), with a median age of 58 years (IQR 50-62). AdHF etiology was predominantly non-ischemic (65.9%). Thirty-five patients developed a composite event during a median follow-up of 636 days (IQR 323-868). Diastolic function, pulmonary pressures, and LV GLS and LV MW indices were not associated with major events. Contrarily, for the secondary endpoint, the hazard ratio for each increase in global work index (GWI) by 50 mmHg% was 0.90 (p = 0.025) and for each increase in global constructive work (GCW) by 50 mmHg% was 0.90 (p = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier demonstrated better endpoint-free survival, with an LV GWI ≥ 369 mmHg%. CONCLUSIONS: GWI and GCW, with good feasibility, can help in the better characterization of patients with AdHF at higher risk of HF hospitalization and adverse events, identifying the need for closer follow-up or additional HF therapy.

Dapagliflozin Effects on Cardiac Deformation in Heart Failure and Secondary Clinical Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors were shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess potential effects of dapagliflozin in nondiabetic patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) on cardiac function assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). METHODS: This randomized, prospective, single-center, open-label trial compared consecutive nondiabetic outpatients with HFrEF or HFmrEF receiving dapagliflozin with patients treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT) except sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors. Primary endpoint was the presence of a significant modification of left ventricular global longitudinal strain, diastolic function (as peak atrial longitudinal strain) and right ventricular function by STE from baseline to 6 months. Cardiovascular events and parameters of congestion were assessed as safety-exploratory endpoints. RESULTS: Overall, 88 patients (38% HFmrEF) were enrolled and randomized to start dapagliflozin on top of OMT (n = 44) or to continue with OMT (n = 44). All STE values improved in the dapagliflozin group after 6 months, whereas there was a nonsignificant improvement in OMT group. Moreover, when comparing the modification of STE parameters at follow-up in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF, only the main treatment effect resulted statistically significant in both groups (P < 0.0001), indicating a significant difference between dapagliflozin and OMT. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided randomized data on the beneficial effect of dapagliflozin in nondiabetic patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF in terms of myocardial performance measured by the most sensitive echocardiographic technique, ie, STE. This suggests its usefulness for left ventricular reverse remodeling and better quality of life in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF. (Effects of Dapagliflozin on cardiac deformation and clinical outcomes in heart failure with reduced and mildly reduced ejection fraction [DAPA ECHO trial]; EudraCT number: 2021-005394-66).

The loss of left atrial contractile function predicts a worse outcome in HFrEF patients.

Background: In chronic heart failure, high intracardiac pressures induce a progressive remodeling of small pulmonary arteries up to pulmonary hypertension. At the end of left atrial conduit function, pulmonary and left heart end-systolic pressures equalization might affect left atrial systole. In this single-center prospective study, we aimed to investigate whether peak atrial contraction strain (PACS), measured by speckle tracking echocardiography, was independently associated with prognosis in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Materials and methods: Outpatients with HFrEF and sinus rhythm referred to our echo-labs were enrolled. After clinical and echocardiographic evaluation, off-line speckle tracking echocardiography analysis was performed. Primary and secondary endpoint were cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization, respectively. Spline knotted survival model identified the optimal prognostic cut-off for PACS. Results: The 152 patients were stratified based on PACS <8% (n = 76) or PACS ≥8% (n = 76). Patients with PACS <8% had lower left ventricle and left atrial reservoir strain and higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and left atrial volume index (LAVI). Over a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 2 years, 117 events (51 cardiovascular death, 66 heart failure hospitalizations) were collected. By univariate and multivariate Cox analysis, PACS emerged as a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization, after adjusting for age, sex, left ventricle strain, and E/e', LAVI (HR 0.6 per 5 unit-decrease in PACS). Kaplan-Meier curves showed a sustained divergence in event-free survival rates for the two groups. Conclusion: The reduction of PACS significantly and independently affects cardiovascular outcome in HFrEF. Therefore, its assessment, although limited to patients with sinus rhythm, could offer additive prognostic information for HFrEF patients.