Regional Analysis of Longitudinal Systolic Function of the Right Ventricle After Corrective Surgery of Tetralogy of Fallot Using Myocardial Isovolumetric Acceleration Index

To assess regional longitudinal systolic function of the right ventricle in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) by tissue Doppler imaging-derived isovolumetric acceleration (IVA) index and determine the effect of right-ventricular (RV) enlargement on regional systolic function. In 30 consecutive TOF patients and 30 age-matched controls, myocardial velocity of the RV ventricular free wall in the basal and middle regions were examined in the apical four-chamber view. Peak myocardial velocity during IVA was recorded on the free RV wall. IVA index was calculated as the difference between baseline and peak velocity divided by their time interval. In 23 of the studied TOF patients, magnetic resonance imaging was performed on the same day to determine global RV volume and ejection fraction. IVA index of the RV lateral free wall was significantly lower in the basal (8.31 ± 6.00 vs. 19.00 ± 10.85 m/s², p = 0.0001) and middle segments (6.56 ± 5.22 vs. 16.17 ± 7.44 m/s², p = 0.0001) in patients than in controls. Among TOF patients, a negative correlation was found between IVA index in the middle segment and RV end-diastolic volume/body surface area (r = −0.549, p < 0.01). Similar to other longitudinal RV wall parameters, the IVA index showed a decreased value in the RV free wall, which is related to the impaired regional and global longitudinal RV systolic dysfunction. RV enlargement adversely affects regional longitudinal systolic function.