Right atrial reverse remodeling and risk of atrial arrhythmias after surgical pulmonary valve replacement

Right atrial (RA) dysfunction and atrial arrhythmias are relatively common in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. The purpose of this study was to determine whether RA function improved after surgical pulmonary valve replacement (PVR), and the association between postoperative RA reverse remodeling and late postoperative atrial arrhythmias.

RA reverse remodeling (ΔRA reservoir strain based speckle tracking echocardiography) was calculated as: ([postoperative RA reservoir strain - preoperative RA reservoir strain]/preoperative RA reservoir strain)x100. Optimal RA reverse remodeling was defined as ΔRA reservoir strain >15%.

Of 411 patients (age 36 ± 13 years), preoperative RA reservoir strain was 31 ± 13%, postoperative RA reserve remodeling was 13 ± 9%, and 171 (42%) had optimal RA reserve remodeling. Preoperative RA reservoir strain (β±SE 1.12 ± 0.09, p < 0.001) was associated with postoperative RA reverse remodeling on multivariable analysis. Preoperative RA reservoir strain ≥33% predicted optimal postoperative RA reverse remodeling (area under the curve 0.792).ΔRA reservoir strain was associated with postoperative atrial arrhythmias (HR 0.91, 95%CI 0.86-0.96, p = 0.004), on multivariable analysis. Compared to patients with preoperative RA reservoir strain <33% (n = 242, 59%), those with RA reservoir strain ≥33% (n = 169, 41%) had more robust RA reverse remodeling (ΔRA reverse remodeling 19 ± 11% versus 7 ± 10%, p < 0.001), and lower incidence of atrial arrhythmias (1.1% versus 2.9%, p = 0.003).

Preoperative RA reservoir strain was associated with RA reverse remodeling after PVR, and in turn, postoperative atrial arrhythmia. These results suggest that RA strain indices could be used to determine optimal timing for PVR in order to reduce the risk of atrial arrhythmia.