Value of speckle tracking for the assessment of right ventricular function in patients operated on for tetralogy of fallot. Comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) function is a major prognostic factor in patients (pts) with operated tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We compared the results of RV speckle tracking (two-dimensional [2D] strain) with those of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in this setting.

METHODS: At transthoracic echocardiogram (echo), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), velocity of S-wave at tricuspid annulus with tissue Doppler, and 2D strain (longitudinal maximal systolic strain) were recorded. Their results were compared to RV indexed end-diastolic volume (EDV), indexed end-systolic volume (ESV), and RV ejection fraction (EF) at MRI.

RESULTS: Twenty-two pts (16 M) aged 11-62 years (mean 23.2 ± 10.8) were included. Parameters of RV systolic function were as follows: RVFAC = 40 ± 10%, TAPSE = 18 ± 4 mm, S-wave = 10 ± 0.2 cm/sec, and RV EF at MRI = 43 ± 11%. Global RV systolic strain was -15.5 ± 4.2%, free wall strain was -15.1 ± 6.3%, and septal strain was -15.8 ± 3.8% on average for the whole group. Echo indexed RV end-diastolic area correlated with EDV at MRI (r = 0.73), as well as echo indexed RV end-systolic area and ESV at MRI (r = 0.71). Global RV 2D strain correlated well with RV EF at MRI: r = 0.68; P < 0.05, and with ESV at MRI: r = 0.63. Feasibility, intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of 2D strain were adequate.

CONCLUSIONS: Speckle tracking is a promising method to estimate RV systolic function in pts operated on for TOF.