Impact of right ventricular diastolic dysfunction on clinical outcomes in inferior STEMI

Prognostic value of right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients with inferior ST-elevated myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Right ventricle infarction (RVI) is predominantly a complication of inferior wall myocardial infarction; it occurs in approximately one third of these patients. Right ventricular dysfunction in patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction was under assessed. Nevertheless, studies which targeted RV assessment by echocardiography, did not routinely evaluate RV diastolic dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate RV diastolic dysfunction and its prognostic value in patients with inferior STEMI and RVI.

RESULTS

Sixty patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction, who underwent primary PCI were enrolled in the study. Patients with pre-existing clinical conditions that might affect RV function, were excluded. Echocardiography was performed within twenty-four hours following the PCI, to assess the RV systolic and diastolic functions with special focus on tricuspid inflow velocities (E velocity, A velocity and E/A ratio) by pulsed wave (PW) doppler and tricuspid annular velocities by tissue doppler index (TDI) (E', A' and E/E' ratio). Clinical features and MACE, including cardiogenic shock, arrhythmia, stroke, reinfarction and death were analyzed in all our patients within 3 months follow up period. The average age of the study population was 51.58 ± 10.11 years, 10% were females. Five patients developed MACE (death, cardiogenic shock and pulmonary edema, anterior STEMI and cardiogenic shock, recurrent inferior STEMI, and arrhythmia and stroke), of whom four occurred in hospital within the first 48 h. Patients who developed MACE had high filling pressures, as all of them had E/E' > 6. E' velocity ≤ 6 cm/sec was associated with increased MACE as 25% of patients with E' velocity ≤ 6 had MACE compared with 2.3% of patients with E' velocity > 6 with a p value of 0.015.

CONCLUSIONS

Tricuspid annular velocities by TDI are essential when evaluating RV diastolic dysfunction. E/E' and E' velocity have a prognostic value in patients with inferior STEMI and RV infarction; E/E' > 6 and E' velocity ≤ 6 cm/sec were associated more MACE in patients with inferior STEMI and RVI.

Right ventricular performance in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction: the forgotten ventricle

Right ventricular (RV) function is a major determinant of prognosis and adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). It is largely unknown if HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients have some special characteristics in RV function (RVF) that may distinguish them from HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFrEF or HFpEF) patients. Standard echocardiography was performed to estimate RVF [tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TDSV), plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), TAPSE to pulmonary artery systolic pressure (TAPSE/PASP) and RV myocardial performance index (MPI-TEI index)] in a cross-sectional study. In 306 participants, the RV systolic function evaluated with TAPSE and TDSV was impaired in 39.1 and 24.2%, respectively. TAPSE, TAPSE/PASP and TDSV were lower in HFmrEF compared with HFpEF and higher compared with HFrEF (p < 0.001 for among-groups comparison). RV diastolic dysfunction varied between 12.6 and 43.8% depending on the echocardiographic parameter. Diastolic RVF determined by tricuspid inflow E/A wave ratio (Et/At) was impaired in less patients with HFmrEF compared with those with HFpEF or HFrEF (25.9% vs 48.4% vs 56.3%; p = 0.030, respectively). RV diastolic dysfunction by et'/at' (tissue Doppler tricuspid valve annulus e' and a' waves) was impaired in less patients with HFmrEF compared with HFrEF (11.8% vs 33.3%; p = 0.019). A multivariate regression analysis revealed a significant association between RV and LV systolic dysfunction. The present study shows a high prevalence of RV dysfunction in HFmrEF patients. Study findings provides some new insights on RV and LV systolic dysfunction coupling whereas RV diastolic dysfunction was not dependent on LV systolic dysfunction.

Impact of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Complete Atrioventricular Block With Acute Inferior ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Background and aims

Complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) is associated with poor clinical outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study determined the frequency and outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in patients with CAVB with acute inferior STEMI.

Methods

We conducted an observational, prospective study and enrolled 151 patients who were diagnosed with inferior STEMI. All patients received PPCI. The clinical outcomes were compared in patients with and without CAVB. The data was recorded on a collection form and analyzed on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Descriptive statistics were applied. For quantitative variables, standard deviation and mean were obtained, and statistical tests were also applied.

Results

Baseline characteristics were homogeneous in all patients. Half of the study population was either diabetic or hypertensive. Out of 151 participants, 21 (13.9%) developed CAVB. Two-thirds of the patients, who had developed heart block, reverted after PPCI. After a follow-up of two weeks, in-hospital mortality did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion

We conclude that PPCI can improve outcomes of CAVB-complicated acute inferior STEMI and suggest that primary PCI should be the preferred reperfusion therapy in patients with CAVB with STEMI.