Usefulness of Global Left Ventricular Longitudinal Strain for Risk Stratification in Low Ejection Fraction, Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis

Abstract Background Dobutamine has been proposed for the assessment of low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (LFLGAS). However, in 1/3 of patients, no increase in stroke volume index can be achieved by Dobutamine, thus hampering its diagnostic value. This study evaluated the manoeuvre of cardiac preload augmentation by passive leg rise (PLR) alone or on top of Dobutamine to increase stroke volume index (SVI) in patients with LFLGAS, particularly in paradoxical LFLGAS. Methods We examined 50 patients with LFLGAS. Patients were assigned to the paradoxical LFLGAS (Paradox) group if left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was ≥50% (n=29) and to the LFLGAS with low ejection fraction (LEF) group if LVEF was <50% (n=21). A modified Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed in all patients with the following 4 steps: Rest, PLR alone, maximal Dobutamine infusion rate alone (Dmax) and Dobutamine plus PLR (Dmax + PLR). Three SVI measurement methods were used: first the left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTI) method, second the 2D Simpson's method, and third the 3D method. The corresponding aortic valve area (AVA) was obtained by the continuity equation. The increase of those values compared to measurements at rest was calculated and compared between the 3 stress steps. Results In the paradoxical LFLGAS group, delta SVI with Dmax assessed by both Simpson's (depicted in the figures) and 3D method was lowest compared to PLR and Dmax + PLR. PLR alone yielded an equally high delta SVI as Dmax + PLR in Simpson's and 3D, and was at least as high as Dmax across all methods. Dobutamine alone yielded the lowest delta transaortic aortic valve VTI. The highest delta aortic valve area resulted for Dmax + PLR. In the LEF group, the three stress steps yielded an equally high delta SVI with Simpson's method. Dmax never yielded a higher delta SVI than PLR alone. The yielded delta SVI was the highest for Dmax + PLR for both LVOT VTI and 3d method, although the difference was overall not as strong as in the Paradox group. Conclusions In patients with paradoxical LFLGAS, Dobutamine alone is inadequate for testing the potential of aortic valve opening augmentation. Instead, PLR alone or the addition of PLR plus Dobutamine should be used for that purpose. In low LVEF, adding PLR to Dobutamine also seems useful although its diagnostic added value is less evident than in the Paradox group. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Gottfried und Julia Bangerter-Rhyner-Foundation Paradox group Low ejection fraction group

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Left Ventricular Function Assessment by Strain Analysis in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis with Preserved Ejection Fraction Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement – A Prospective Longitudinal Study at a Tertiary Health Care Centre of South India

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare ◽

10.18410/jebmh/2021/446 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (27) ◽

pp. 2405-2411

Author(s):

Syed Waleem Pasha ◽

Narasimha D. Pai ◽

Padmanabha Kamath ◽

Ramanatha L. Kamath ◽

Francis N.P. Monteiro

Keyword(s):

Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Aortic Valve Replacement ◽

Strain Rate ◽

Valve Replacement ◽

Longitudinal Strain ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Study Population

BACKGROUND Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common, single, native valvular heart disease in adult population. The purpose of this study was to detect abnormalities in global longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate using 2D - STI in patients with severe AS and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The effect of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on changes in strain parameters 30 days after surgery was also analysed. METHODS A total number of 60 patients aged more than 18 years with aortic valve disease scheduled for surgical aortic valve replacement admitted in Department of Cardiology, KMC hospital Mangalore, were included over a period of 18 months from January 2017 to June 2018. RESULTS A total of 60 patients with severe AS, defined by an aortic valve area of < 1 cm², mean transaortic pressure gradient ( P) of > 40 mmHg and maximum aortic velocity (Vmax) of > 4 m/sec were studied. Mean age of the study population was 63.5 years. 60 % of the population were males and 40 % being females. Most common risk factor present in the study population was diabetes mellitus (DM). 83% of the patients in the study population had at least one symptom. Most common symptom with which the patients presented was exertional dyspnoea. All patients had normal left ventricle (LV) cavity dimensions and LVEF prior to surgery with diastolic dysfunction being present in all patients. The LV ejection fraction is not significantly altered. The aortic valve area calculated by continuity equation has significantly increased post AVR with a significant reduction in transaortic peak and means pressure gradients. Mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) improved from -15.1 % to - 16.9 % (P < 0.001) and longitudinal strain rate improved from -0.8 to -0.9/s (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Global longitudinal strain and strain rate can be adequately measured by 2D speckle-tracking imaging and can be used to detect subtle changes of myocardial function in patients with severe AS with preserved LVEF. KEYWORDS Aortic Stenosis, Exertional Dyspnoea, Global Longitudinal Strain, Transaortic Pressure Gradient, Ventricular Hypertrophy

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Segmentally impaired left ventricular longitudinal strain: a new predictive diagnostic parameter for asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction

Perfusion ◽

10.1177/0267659121995998 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 026765912199599

Author(s):

Peggy M Kostakou ◽

Elsie S Tryfou ◽

Vassilios S Kostopoulos ◽

Lambros I Markos ◽

Dimitrios S Damaskos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Left Ventricle ◽

Aortic Stenosis ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Longitudinal Strain ◽

Severe Aortic Stenosis ◽

Global Longitudinal Strain ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Average Strain ◽

Asymptomatic Patients ◽

Significant Difference

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the correlation between severe aortic stenosis (sAS) and impairment of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) in particular segments, using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with sAS and normal ejection fraction of left ventricle (LVEF). Methods: The study included 53 consecutive patients with asymptomatic sAS and preserved LVEF. The regional longitudinal systolic LV wall strain was evaluated at the area opposite of the aorta as the median strain value of the basal, middle, and apical segments of the lateral and posterior walls and was compared to the average strain value of the interventricular septum (IVS) at the same views. Results: LVGLS was decreased and was not statistically different between three- and four-chamber views (−12.5 ± 3.6 vs −11.4 ± 5.5%, p = 0.2). The average strain values of the lateral and posterior walls were statistically reduced compared to the average value of the IVS (lateral vs IVS: −7.8 ± 3.7 vs −10 ± 5.3%, p = 0.005, posterior vs IVS: −7.7 ± 4.2 vs −10.3 ± 3.8%, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference between lateral and posterior walls (−7.8 ± 3.7 vs −7.7 ± 4.2%, p = 0.9). Conclusions: The strain of lateral and posterior walls of left ventricle, which lay just opposite to the aortic valve seem to be more reduced compared to other walls in patients with sAS and preserved LVEF possibly due to their anatomical position. This impairment seems to be the reason of the overall LVGLS reduction. Regional strain could be used as an extra tool for the estimation of the severity of AS as well as for prognostic information in asymptomatic patients.

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