Right ventricular outflow tract systolic excursion: a useful method for determining right ventricular systolic...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Echocardiography
• Cardiac Imaging

Background:

• Assessing right ventricular (RV) systolic function is challenging.
• Existing methods like RV fractional area change (FAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) have limitations.
• Right ventricular outflow tract systolic excursion (RVOT_SE) offers a novel approach to RV function evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between the novel RVOT_SE method and established RV systolic function assessment techniques.
• To determine the diagnostic accuracy of RVOT_SE in identifying reduced RV systolic function.

Main Methods:

• RVOT_SE was defined as the systolic excursion of the RV outflow tract anterior wall endocardium.
• 104 patients with diverse RV function, ejection fraction, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were studied.
• Measurements included RVOT_SE, FAC, TAPSE, RV outflow tract fractional shortening (RVOT_FS), and tricuspid annular systolic excursion velocity S' (Tissue S').

Main Results:

• RVOT_SE demonstrated strong correlations with RVOT_FS, FAC, and TAPSE.
• Multivariate analysis identified RVOT_FS, FAC, and TAPSE as independent predictors of RVOT_SE.
• RVOT_SE achieved 98% sensitivity and 96% specificity for diagnosing reduced RV systolic function.
• No significant correlation was found between RVOT_SE and ejection fraction or pulmonary artery systolic pressure in patients with reduced RV function.
• Favorable intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility were reported for RVOT_SE.

Conclusions:

• RVOT_SE is a simple, accurate, and promising new method for evaluating RV systolic function.
• Its high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility support its clinical utility.
• RVOT_SE may serve as a valuable tool in the echocardiographic assessment of RV performance.