Impact of right ventricular dysfunction on the outcome of heart failure patients undergoing surgical ventricular reconstruction†

Objectives: The aim was to assess the impact of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on the outcome of heart failure (HF) patients undergoing surgical ventricular reconstruction (SVR).

Methods: A total of 324 patients (65 ± 9 years) with previous myocardial infarction had an echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) function before and after SVR. RV function was assessed measuring the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and RV dysfunction was defined by a TAPSE < 16 mm.

Results: RV dysfunction was detected in 69 patients (Group A, mean age 64 ± 11 years), while 255 patients (Group B, mean age 65 ± 9 years) had a preserved RV function. Patients in Group A showed a higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (P = 0.01), larger left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (P = 0.01), a lower EF (P = 0.01), a higher percentage of moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (P = 0.01) and a higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs; P = 0.01). Propensity score matching was applied in order to adjust for baseline differences. In the fully matched population, low-output syndrome (P = 0.01), inotropic support (P = 0.01) and intra-aortic balloon pump insertion (P = 0.03) were significantly more frequent in Group A compared with Group B. However, 30-day mortality was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.18). Kaplan-Meier 5- and 8-year survival rate (log-rank: P = 0.01) as well as freedom from cardiac events (log-rank: P = 0.02) were significantly lower in patients with RV dysfunction. At Cox regression analysis, preoperative RVD (P = 0.01) and NYHA class at admission >II (P = 0.02) resulted in independent predictor of late mortality.

Conclusions: RV dysfunction correlates with LV dysfunction and it is an important predictor of long-term outcome in HF patients undergoing SVR.