Right ventricular function after repair of tetralogy of Fallot: an echocardiographic and clinical evaluation

Right ventricular dysfunction is a major determinant of long-term outcomes after tetralogy of Fallot repair, particularly in the presence of chronic pulmonary regurgitation. Strain analysis may detect early right ventricular dysfunction more sensitively than conventional echocardiographic parameters.

This retrospective single-centre study included 63 patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair who underwent postoperative echocardiographic evaluation during mid-term follow-up. Right ventricular function was assessed using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular systolic velocity, fractional area change, and right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain. Pulmonary regurgitation severity was evaluated by colour Doppler, with pulmonary regurgitation jet width expressed as a ratio relative to the pulmonary annulus diameter. Associations between pulmonary regurgitation severity and right ventricular function were analysed using correlation and multivariable linear regression.

Conventional right ventricular systolic parameters were largely preserved, whereas right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain worsened with increasing pulmonary regurgitation severity (p = 0.036). Pulmonary regurgitation jet width emerged as the sole independently associated determinant of impaired right ventricular strain (β = 0.132, p = 0.038). QRS duration was not independently associated. Pulmonary regurgitation jet width showed moderate discriminatory ability for impaired right ventricular strain (area under the curve = 0.67).

Right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain is a sensitive marker of pulmonary regurgitation-related right ventricular dysfunction after tetralogy of Fallot repair. Pulmonary regurgitation jet width, expressed relative to the pulmonary annulus, appears to be the dominant determinant of right ventricular mechanical impairment and may complement conventional assessment during follow-up.