Three-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Chronic Coronary Syndrome Patients After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Objective

This study aimed to assess alterations in right ventricular (RV) function following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with chronic coronary syndromes utilizing three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE).

Methods

A prospective study was conducted involving 136 patients diagnosed with chronic coronary syndromes undergoing PCI, constituting the study group, alongside 110 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers serving as the control group. Echocardiographic evaluations, including both conventional and three-dimensional assessments, were performed on all study participants at 1-week, 6, and 12 months post-PCI. Parameters such as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were derived from conventional echocardiography, while tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (S') was measured via tissue Doppler imaging. 3D-STE was utilized to quantify metrics including right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS), right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS), right ventricular stroke volume (RVSV), and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF).

Results

TAPSE, S', RVFAC, RVFWLS, RVGLS, RVSV, and RVEF exhibited significant increases from 1-week to 6 months post-PCI (p < 0.05). However, from 6 to 12 months post-PCI, RVFAC, RVGLS, RVSV, and RVEF demonstrated no notable changes (p > 0.05). Meanwhile, TAPSE, S', and RVFWLS sustained significant elevations: TAPSE (19.63 ± 3.253% to 22.603 ± 2.885%, p < 0.001); S' (10.57 ± 2.643 to 12.61 ± 2.189 cm/s, p < 0.001); RVFWLS (18.64 ± 2.745% to 19.926 ± 3.291%, p = 0.002). At 12 months post-PCI, S', RVFAC, RVGLS, RVSV, and RVEF remained lower than those of the healthy control group, but the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, RVFWLS was significantly lower compared to the healthy control group (19.926 ± 3.291% vs. 22.10 ± 1.994%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Following PCI, right ventricular systolic function in patients with chronic coronary syndromes improves significantly over time. However, even at the 12-month post-PCI mark, RVFWLS remains lower than that of the control group. Notably, 3D-STE emerges as a noninvasive method for quantifying right ventricular systolic function post-PCI in chronic coronary syndrome patients.