Impact of Interatrial Communication on Left Ventricle Performance in Patients with Significant Post-tricuspid Shunt

Infants with post-tricuspid valve shunts (PTS) may benefit from interatrial communication (IAC). The effect of IAC on left ventricular (LV) performance in these patients was studied. IAC was documented prospectively in 55 patients with PTS. Clinical status, echocardiographic dimensions of LV, mitral inflow Doppler, tissue Doppler velocities and time intervals were measured. Creatinine kinase (CK), CKMB, troponin-I and NT pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP) were measured. Patients were divided into four groups: (A) PTS but no IAC (n = 32); (B) PTS and IAC (n = 23); (C) VSD but no IAC (n = 16); and (D) VSD and IAC (n = 19). Group A had more frequent mitral regurgitation (p = 0.041), larger mitral annulus (1.80 vs. 1.30 cm, p < 0.0001) and larger LV systolic and diastolic dimensions (2.01 vs. 1.40 and 3.28 vs. 2.35 cm, p < 0.001) than group B. The E-wave deceleration time tended to be longer in group A (121.0 vs. 106.8 ms, p = 0.06). By tissue Doppler, group A had E′- and S-waves significantly taller (15.51 vs. 13.14 and 7.69 vs. 6.72 cm, p = 0.04 and p = 0.005, respectively) than group B. Also, NT pro-BNP was significantly higher in group A (1116.15 vs. 458.73 pg/ml, p = 0.028). Group C had significant larger mitral z-score values (1.2 vs. 0.01, p < 0.001), larger LV diameter z-score (p = 0.001) and higher NT pro-BNP level (1477.37 vs. 451.66 pg/ml, p = 0.001) than group D. There was no significant difference in the clinical status between the groups. In children with PTS, the presence of IAC could be beneficial. Their echocardiographic parameters and biomarker show better systolic and diastolic LV performance.