A Novel Surgical Approach Using Contracting Band to Improve Right Ventricle Ejection Fraction for Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot, a Patient-Specific CMR-Based Modeling Study

Author(s):  
Chun Yang ◽  
Dalin Tang ◽  
Tal Geva ◽  
Rahul Rathod ◽  
Haruo Yamauchi ◽  
...  

Patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) account for the majority of cases with late onset right ventricle (RV) failure. The current surgical approach, which includes pulmonary valve replacement/insertion (PVR), has yielded mixed results [1–2]. A new surgical option placing an elastic band in the right ventricle is proposed to improve RV cardiac function measured by ejection fraction (EF).

Author(s):  
Han Yu ◽  
Pedro J. del Nido ◽  
Tal Geva ◽  
Chun Yang ◽  
Zheyang Wu ◽  
...  

Patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), a congenital heart defect which includes a ventricular septal defect and severe right ventricular outflow obstruction, account for the majority of cases with late-onset right ventricle (RV) failure. Current surgery procedures, including pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) with right ventricle remodeling, yield mixed results. PVR with active band insertion was hypothesized to be of clinical usage on improving RV function measured by ejection fraction (EF). In lieu of risky open-heart surgeries and experiments on animal and human, computational biomechanical models were adapted to study the impact of PVR with five band insertion options. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images were acquired from seven TOF patients before PVR surgery for model construction. For each patient, five different surgery plans combined with passive and active contraction band with contraction ratio of 20, 15, and 10% were studied. Those five plans include three single-band plans with different band locations; one plan with two bands, and one plan with three bands. Including the seven no-band models, 147 computational bi-ventricle models were constructed to simulate RV cardiac functions and identify optimal band plans. Patient variations with different band plans were investigated. Surgery plan with three active contraction bands and band active contraction ratio of 20% had the best performance on improving RV function. The mean ± SD RV ejection fraction value from the seven patients was 42.90 ± 5.68%, presenting a 4.19% absolute improvement or a 10.82% relative improvement, when compared with the baseline models (38.71 ± 5.73%, p = 0.016). The EF improvements from the seven patients varied from 2.87 to 6.01%. Surgical procedures using active contraction bands have great potential to improve RV function measured by ejection fraction for patients with repaired ToF. It is possible to have higher right ventricle ejection fraction improvement with more bands and higher band active contraction ratio. Our findings with computational models need to be further validated by animal experiments before clinical trial could become possible.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Rodriguez Garcia ◽  
A Pijuan Domenech ◽  
J Perez Rodon ◽  
B Benito Villabriga ◽  
J Francisco Pascual ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTF) and severe pulmonary regurgitation frequently progress to dilation and dysfunction of the right ventricle (RV). It has been documented in the literature that there is a correlation between the duration of the QRS in the surface electrocardiogram and the hemodynamic parameters of the RV of these patients, suggesting the presence of a mechanical-electrical interaction. Purpose To determine if there is an association between the contraction delay in certain areas of the RV measured in M-mode echocardiography and the delay in electrical activation measured in the electroanatomic map (EAM) of RV in patients with rTF. Methods Unicentric and observational study of all patients with rTF undergoing EAM, echocardiography with study of RV asynchrony and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Activation delay in the antero-basal area and in the RV outflow tract (RVOT) in the EAM were both analysed (Figure 1A). The shortening delay in the same areas in M-mode echocardiography was also evaluated (Figure 1B, C). MRI data regarding volume and ejection fraction was also collected. Results 64 patients were included (36.7±10.6 years, 65% men). The mean total activation time of the RV (RV-TAT) was 127.3±42.4 ms. Activation mapping showed a recurrent pattern with beginning in the interventricular septum and ending in RV antero-basal region and/or RVOT. A linear positive correlation was observed between RV-TAT and the activation delay in both regions analysed (ρ=0.60 and ρ=0.52, respectively; p<0.001) and also between the electrical and mechanical delay in the anterior wall (ρ=0.41; p=0.001). On the other hand, it was observed a negative correlation between RV ejection fraction (RVEF), measured on MRI, and the RV-TAT (ρ=−0.41, p=0.002) and also between RVEF and the activation delay in the RV antero-basal region and in the RVOT (ρ=−0.32, p=0.016 and ρ=−0.36, p=0.007, respectively). Conclusions There is a mechanical-electrical interaction in the RV of patients with rTF, with a negative correlation between the activation delay and RVEF and between mechanical and electrical activation delay in specific anatomical regions (regional mechanical-electrical interaction). These results may guide future studies on resynchronization in this heart disease. Figure 1. EAM and echocardiographic measures Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Author(s):  
Yuji Tominaga ◽  
Masaki Taira ◽  
Takashi Kido ◽  
Tomomitsu Kanaya ◽  
Kanta Araki ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVES The clinical significance of persistent end-diastolic forward flow (EDFF) after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) remains unclear in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of these patients and the impact of persistent EDFF on outcomes. METHODS Of 46 consecutive patients who underwent PVR for moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation between 2003 and 2019, 23 (50%) did not show EDFF before PVR [group (−)]. In the remaining 23 patients with EDFF before PVR, EDFF was diminished after PVR in 13 (28%) [group (+, −)] and persisted in 10 (22%) [group (+, +)]. The following variables were compared between these 3 groups: (i) preoperative right ventricular (RV) and right atrial volumes measured by magnetic resonance imaging, haemodynamic parameters measured by cardiac catheterization and the degree of RV myocardial fibrosis measured by RV biopsy obtained at PVR and (ii) the post-PVR course, development of atrial arrhythmia and need for intervention. RESULTS A high RV end-diastolic pressure, a greater right atrial volume index and a greater RV end-systolic volume index before PVR and a high degree of RV fibrosis were significantly associated with persistent EDFF 1 year after PVR. Persistent EDFF was a significant risk factor for postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmia, and catheter ablation and pacemaker implantation were required more frequently in these patients. CONCLUSIONS Persistent EDFF after PVR could predict a worse prognosis, especially an increased risk of arrhythmia. Close follow-up is required in patients with persistent EDFF for early detection of arrhythmia and prompt reintervention if necessary. Clinical trial registration number Institutional review board of Osaka University Hospital, number 16105


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