Non-invasive myocardial work is reduced during transient acute coronary occlusion

Intracardiac fluid dynamic analysis: available techniques and novel clinical applications

There is a growing interest in the potential use of intracardiac fluid dynamic analysis to better understand cardiac mechanics and identify novel imaging biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. Abnormalities of vortex formation and shape may in fact play a critical role in cardiac function, affecting both efficiency and myocardial workload. Recent advances in imaging technologies have significantly improved our ability to analyze these dynamic flow patterns in vivo, offering new insights into both normal and pathological cardiac conditions. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the available imaging techniques for intracardiac fluid dynamics analysis, highlighting their strengths and limitations. By synthesizing the current knowledge in this evolving field, the paper aims to underscore the importance of advanced fluid dynamic analysis in contemporary cardiology and to identify future directions for research and clinical practice.

Usefulness of echocardiographic myocardial work in evaluating the microvascular perfusion in STEMI patients after revascularization

Background

Left ventricular myocardial work (MW) assessed by echocardiography has recently been introduced as a new index of global and regional myocardial performance. The presence of microvascular obstruction after revascularization in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients predicts poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore the usefulness of MW in identifying impaired microvascular perfusion (MVP) in the patients with STEMI after revascularization.

Methods

One hundred and sixty STEMI patients who underwent myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) within 48 h after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included. Patients were divided into normal MVP and impaired MVP groups according to the myocardial perfusion score. The clinical data, coronary angiography results and echocardiographic data including Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE) were collected.

Results

Impaired MVP was found in 60% of patients. Compared with the normal MVP group, GWI (909.2 ± 287.6 mmHg% vs. 1191.2 ± 378.2 mmHg%), GCW (1198.3 ± 339.6 mmHg% vs. 1525.9 ± 420.5 mmHg%), GWE (82.7 ± 7.8% vs. 86.8 ± 5.6%) and GLS (− 11.0 ± 3.4% vs. − 14.4 ± 3.8%) were significantly reduced in the impaired MVP group. Whereas there was no statistically significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and GWW, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that peak troponin I (OR 1.017, 95% CI 1.006–1.029; P = 0.004), final TIMI flow ≤ 2 (OR 16.366, 95% CI 1.998–134.06; P = 0.009), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi) (OR 1.139 95% CI 1.048–1.239; P = 0.002), and GWI (OR 0.997 95% CI 0.994–1.000; P = 0.029) were independently associated with impaired MVP. GWI showed a good sensitivity (86.8%) but low specificity (53.7%) in identifying impaired MVP (AUC 0.712, 95% CI 0.620–0.804; P < 0.001). Combination with GWI can improve the diagnostic value of TNI or LVEVi for impaired MVP.

Conclusion

Impaired MVP is relatively common in STEMI patients after revascularization and independently associated with left ventricular GWI assessed by echocardiography. GWI confer incremental value to MVP assessment in STEMI patients.

Echocardiographic Normal Reference Ranges for Non-invasive Myocardial Work Parameters in Pediatric Age: Results From an International Multi-Center Study

Aims

This international multi-center study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of non-invasive myocardial work (MW) parameters in the pediatric population, and to provide normal reference ranges for this useful echocardiographic tool in this specific subset of patients.

Methods and Results

In this retrospective multi-center study involving three pediatric laboratories, 150 healthy children and adolescents (mean age of 10.6 ± 4.5, 91 males) were enrolled. A complete echocardiographic examination has been performed, including global longitudinal strain (GLS) assessment. The following parameters of non-invasive MW have been obtained through a dedicated software: global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global work waste (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE), using left ventricular (LV) strain loops and non-invasive brachial artery cuff pressure values. The lowest expected values were for GWI 1,723 mmHg% in males and 1,682 mmHg% in females, for GCW 2,089 and 2,106 mmHg%, for GWE 95.9 and 95.5% whereas the highest expected value for GWW was 78 mmHg% in men and 90 mmHg% in women. The univariable and multivariable analysis showed significant associations between either GWI or GCW with SBP (β coefficient = 0.446, p < 0.001; β coefficient = 0.456, p < 0.001, respectively) and LV GLS (β coefficient = −0.268, p = 0.001; β coefficient = −0.233, p = 0.003, respectively). Inter- and intra-observer variability showed good reproducibility of non-invasive MW parameters.

Conclusion

Non-invasive MW parameters were feasible and reliable in the pediatric population. This study provided normal reference ranges of these useful echocardiographic indices.

Non-Invasive Myocardial Work in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis

Changes in cardiac mechanics after correction of severe Aortic Stenosis (AS) are under-investigated. Myocardial Work (MW) is emerging as a useful non-invasive correlate of invasively measured myocardial performance and oxygen consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of MW in the clinical management of patients with AS undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Consecutive patients referred for TAVI were included in this observational study. Echocardiograms were performed before and after TAVI to measure Global Work Index (GWI), Global Constructive Work (GCW), Global Wasted Work (GWW), and Global Work Efficiency (GWE). Mean transvalvular gradient was significantly improved (p < 0.05), without significant changes in left ventricular ejection fraction, nor in global longitudinal strain (GLS). GWI (p < 0.001) and GCW (p < 0.001), but not GWW (p = 0.241) nor GWE (p = 0.854) were significantly reduced after TAVI. Patients with a low flow low gradient (LF-LG) AS had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (p < 0.001), worse global longitudinal strain (GLS) (p < 0.001), and lower baseline GWI (p < 0.001), GCW (p < 0.001) and GWE (p = 0.003). The improvement in GWI and GCW observed after TAVI in the general study population were abolished among LF-LG patients. In conclusion, non-invasive MW might be useful to further classify patients with AS and to predict non responders.

The role of myocardial work in evaluating coronary microcirculation of STEMI patients after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Despite of restoring epicardial infarct-related artery(IRA) patency after myocardial infarction, microvascular reperfusion were not achieved sometimes, and the deterioration of myocardial perfusion persists in a considerable number of patients. This phenomenon is known as microvascular obstruction (MVO). MVO is often observed in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction(STEMI) patients, even if percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was successful. In addition, some evidence has indicated that the presence of MVO predicted poor clinical outcomes independent of myocardial infarct size. Noninvasive as well as invasive modes for assessing microvascular perfusion(MVP) are complex, time consuming, and expensive have, there is yet no simple method available at present to assess coronary microcirculation. In this research, we attempt to evaluate the usefulness of left ventricular myocardial work (LVMW), a new index of myocardial performance, for the assessment of MVP in STEMI patients after PCI.

METHODS

Forty-seven patients with STEMI treated by PCI were enrolled and underwent a transthoracic doppler echocardiography (TTE) within 24-72 hours after PCI. IRA were left anterior descending (LAD) artery (29,62%), left circumflex (LCX) artery(9,19%), right coronary artery (RCA) (9,19%) respectively. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was used to evaluate MVP after PCI, then perfusion score index (PSI) was calculated referring to whether the ultrasonic enhancing agents was replenishment or not. Patients were divided into normal MVP and impaired MVP group according to PSI. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) was generated by speckle tracking echocardiography(STE) and pressure-strain loops (PSLs) was used to generate global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE). GLS and the MW parameters (GWI, GCW, GWW, GWE) were compared between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated by plotting sensitivity versus (1-specificity), allowing calculation of the area under the curve (AUC) and the identification of LVMW parameters and GLS cutoff thresholds that best identify STEMI patients with impaired MVP after PCI.

RESULTS

In this study, a statistically significant difference was observed in GWI (1163±405 mm Hg% vs 1617±363 mm Hg%), GCW (1296±430 mm Hg% vs 1789±406 mm Hg%), GWE (83±8.52% vs 90±5.58%) and GLS (11.56±3.29 vs 16.65±3.59) between impaired MVP group and normal MVP group. However, there is no statistical significance difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and GWW. ROC analysis revealed that GCW (cut-off value: 1326 mm Hg%, AUC: .80, sensitivity: 95% and specificity: 56%), GWI (cut-off value: 1281 mm Hg%, AUC: .81, sensitivity: 90% and specificity: 70%), GWE (cut-off value: 90%, AUC: .77, sensitivity: 65% and specificity: 78%) and GLS (cut-off value: 12.5, AUC: .86, sensitivity: 90% and specificity: 67%) have appreciable AUC, sensitivity, and specificity to identify STEMI patients with impaired MVP after PCI.

CONCLUSION

Measuring LVMW indices of STEMI patients after PCI may add adjuvant value for the assessment of MVP.

Prediction of Significant Coronary Artery Disease Through Advanced Echocardiography: Role of Non-invasive Myocardial Work

Background: Non-invasive prediction of critical coronary artery stenosis (CAST) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is challenging. Strain parameters can often capture an impairment of regional longitudinal function; however, they are load dependent. A novel non-invasive method to estimate Myocardial Work (MW) has been recently proposed, showing a strong correlation with invasive work measurements. Our aim was to investigate the ability of non-invasive MW to predict the ischaemic risk area underlying a CAST. Methods and Results: The study population comprises 80 individuals: 50 patients with CAST and 30 controls (CTRL). Echocardiography recordings were obtained before coronary angiography to measure global longitudinal strain (GLS), Myocardial Work Index (MWI), Myocardial Constructive Work (MCW), Myocardial Wasted work (MWW), Myocardial Work Efficiency (MWE). Global MWI (p = 0.048), MWE (p < 0.001), and MCW (p = 0.048) at baseline were significantly reduced in patients with CAST compared to controls (p < 0.05). Regional MWE within the myocardial segments underlying the CAST, but not LS, was significantly reduced compared to non-target segments (p < 0.001). At ROC analysis, the diagnostic performance to predict CAST for regional MWE (AUC = 0.920, p < 0.001) was higher compared to both regional post-systolic shortening index (PSI) (AUC = 0.600, p = 0.129) and regional LS (AUC = 0.546, p = 0.469). Conclusions: Non-invasive estimation of MW work indices is able to predict a CAST before invasive angiography.

Early reduction of left atrial function predicts adverse clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Aims

To investigate the changes in left atrial strain (LAS) after correction of severe aortic stenosis (AS) with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and assess its prognostic impact.

Methods and results

One hundred consecutive patients with severe symptomatic AS who underwent TAVR at the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro underwent echocardiographic examination including assessment of LAS before and after TAVR. Independent investigators collected outcome data and information. The primary study outcome was the difference in ΔLAS (postTAVR–preTAVR) between patients those met the main clinical endpoint (a composite of cardiovascular mortality and heart failure hospitalisation) and those not meeting the endpoint.

During a median follow-up of 31 months, 35 patients (35%) met the combined clinical endpoint. The difference between LAS post-TAVR and LAS pre-TAVR (ΔLAS) was significantly larger in patients who met the combined endpoint (HR=0.76 (0.67–0.86); p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis including ΔLAS, EuroSCORE II and left ventricular ejection fraction showed that ΔLAS (HR=0.80, p<0.001) was the only independent predictor of the combined clinical endpoint. Finally, a Kaplan-Maier analysis showed that patients with a ΔLAS above its median value had a significantly better event-free survival compared with those below the median (p<0.001).

Conclusions

A lower reduction in ΔLAS after TAVR was an independent predictor of the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation for heart failure.

Clinical Significance of Global Wasted Work in Patients with Heart Failure Receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

BACKGROUND

The relationship between myocardial work assessment using pressure-strain loops by echocardiography before cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and response to CRT has been recently revealed. Among myocardial work parameters, the impact of left ventricular myocardial global wasted work (GWW) on response to CRT and outcome following CRT has been seldom studied. Hence, the authors evaluated the relationship between preprocedural GWW and outcome in a large prospective cohort of patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced ejection fraction receiving CRT.

METHODS

The study included 249 patients with HF. Myocardial work indices including GWW were calculated using speckle-tracking strain two-dimensional echocardiography using pressure-strain loops. End points of the study were (1) response to CRT, defined as left ventricular reverse remodeling and/or absence of hospitalization for HF, and (2) all-cause death during follow-up.

RESULTS

Median follow-up duration was 48 months (interquartile range, 43-54 months). Median preoperative GWW was 281 mm Hg% (interquartile range, 184-388 mm Hg%). Preoperative GWW was associated with CRT response (area under the curve, 0.74; P < .0001), and a 200 mm Hg% threshold discriminated CRT nonresponders from responders with 85% specificity and 50% sensitivity, even after adjustment for known predictors of CRT response (adjusted odds ratio, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.91-8.68; P < .001). After adjustment for established predictors of outcome in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction receiving CRT, GWW < 200 mm Hg% remained associated with a relative increased risk for all-cause death compared with GWW ≥ 200 mm Hg% (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.9; P = .0245). Adding GWW to a baseline model including known predictors of outcome in CRT resulted in an improvement of this model (χ² to improve 4.85, P = .028). The relationship between GWW and CRT response and outcome was stronger in terms of size effect and statistical significance than for other myocardial work indices.

CONCLUSIONS

Low preoperative GWW (<200 mm Hg%) is associated with absence of CRT response in CRT candidates and with a relative increased risk for all-cause death. GWW appears to be a promising parameter to improve selection for CRT of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction.

Abnormal myocardial work in children with Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) can be associated with high morbidity and mortality due to coronary artery aneurysms formation and myocardial dysfunction. Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of non-invasive myocardial work in predicting subtle myocardial abnormalities in Kawasaki disease (KD) children with coronary dilatation (CADL). A total of 100 patients (age 8.7 ± 5 years) were included: 45 children with KD and CADL (KD/CADL) (Z-score > 2.5), 45 age-matched controls (CTRL) and, finally, an additional group of 10 children with KD in absence of coronary dilatation (KD group). Left ventricular (LV) systolic function and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were assessed. Global myocardial work index (MWI) was calculated as the area of the LV pressure-strain loops. From MWI, global Constructive Work (MCW), Wasted Work (MWW) and Work Efficiency (MWE) were estimated. Despite normal LV systolic function by routine echocardiography, KD/CADL patients had lower MWI (1433.2 ± 375.8 mmHg% vs 1752.2 ± 265.7 mmHg%, p < 0.001), MCW (1885.5 ± 384.2 mmHg% vs 2175.9 ± 292.4 mmHg%, p = 0.001) and MWE (994.0 ± 4.8% vs 95.9 ± 2.0%, p = 0.030) compared to CTRL. Furthermore, MWI was significantly reduced in children belonging to the KD group in comparison with controls (KD: 1498.3 ± 361.7 mmHg%; KD vs CTRL p = 0.028) and was comparable between KD/CADL and KD groups (KD/CADL vs KD p = 0.896). Moreover, KD/CADL patients with normal GLS (n = 38) preserved significant differences in MWI and MCW in comparison with CTRL. MWI, MCW and MWE were significantly reduced in KD children despite normal LVEF and normal GLS. These abnormalities seems independent from CADL. Thus, in KD with normal LVEF and normal GLS, estimation of MWI may be a more sensitive indicator of myocardial dysfunction.