Role of speckle tracking echocardiography in assessing right ventricle function after percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect

Abstract

Background; Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases. Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is closely related to patient outcome in open and closed ASD closure. Aim of work; to quantify RV function in patients with chronic RV volume overload due to an ASD before and after its percutaneous closure. Subjects & methods; In this prospective study which included 40 patients with secundum type ASD and normal sinus rhythm who underwent successful percutaneous ASD closure procedure at Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University; and Cardiology Department, national-heart-institute. All patients underwent full history taking, clinical examination, ecg & echocardiography including assessment of LA, LV, RA & RV functions & dimensions with special emphasis on TAPSE, RV MPI & 2D speckle tracking. Result: LA diameters (mm) were decreased significantly after ASD closure; Antero-posterior, Medio-lateral, and Apico-basal. RA diameters (mm) were decreased significantly after ASD closure; PASP was decreased significantly after ASD closure. LVEF% was increased significantly after ASD closure. TAPSE was increased significantly after ASD closure. RV end diastolic diameters were decreased significantly after ASD closure. Pulsed Doppler RV MPI was decreased significantly after ASD closure. RV longitudinal strain (%) was increased significantly after ASD closure. there was a positive correlation among delta RVSTE and delta LVEF and TAPSE. Also, there was a negative correlation among delta RVSTE and delta RV MPI, RV end diastolic diameter, RA diameters, and PASP. Conclusion; Our study demonstrated significant improvements in multiple echocardiographic measures of cardiac structure and function including reduced LA/RA diameters, decreased PASP, increased LVEF, higher TAPSE, reduced RVEDD, lower RV MPI, and increased RV longitudinal strain at one month post-procedure. These changes indicate reversal of the chronic volume and pressure overload on the right heart caused by the left-to-right shunt, resulting in measurable reverse remodeling and improved mechanics of the right ventricle.