Atrial function in the Fontan circulation: comparison with invasively assessed systemic ventricular filling pressure

AbstractAbnormal atrial mechanics in biventricular circulations have been associated with elevated left heart filling pressures. Similar associations in the Fontan circulation are unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between atrial mechanics and invasively assessed hemodynamic parameters late after the Fontan operation. Thirty-nine Fontan patients with echocardiographic and invasive hemodynamic studies done within 48  h were included and were compared to 40 age-matched healthy controls. Atrial and ventricular strain measurements were measured offline using 2-dimensional speckle-tracking. Mean age was 10.2 ± 6.7 years and 24 (62%) were male. Atrial strain measures were lower in Fontan patients compared to healthy controls. There was no significant association between atrial strain measurements and Fontan systemic ventricular filling pressures (SVFP) as indicated by pulmonary artery occlusion pressures, direct left atrial pressure or systemic ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Global atrial strain wa s not correlated with segmental atrial strain in the pulmonary venous atrium. Global atrial reservoir strain was positively correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.508, p = 0.045). Global atrial conduit strain was positively correlated with E/A ratio of the AV valve inflow (r  = 0.555, p = 0.002). Atrial and ventricular strain measurements were not significantly correlated. In patients with a Fontan, global atrial funct...
Source: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research