The international journal of cardiovascular imaging
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Int J Cardiovasc Imaging · Jun 2016
Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular functions in patients with proximal right coronary artery chronic total occlusion.
To assess right ventricular functions by echocardiography in patients with proximal right coronary artery (RCA) CTO and correlating it with clinical and angiographic variables. We studied 60 consecutive patients with CTO of the proximal RCA and no other significant lesions in the left coronary system. Echocardiography was performed in order to measure left ventricular (LV) dimensions, LVEF, RV end diastolic area (RVEDA), RV end systolic area (RVESA), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), Doppler myocardial performance index (MPI), trans-tricuspid E and A waves, E/A ratio, S', e' and a'. ⋯ Patients with poorly developed collaterals had lower TAPSE and RVFAC and a higher MPI (p < 0.0001 for each). Patients with proximal RCA CTOs and evidence of inferior wall MI have significant impairment of RV functions in addition to poorly developed coronary collaterals. Those with proximal RCA CTOs and well-developed coronary collaterals have better RV functions.