Study of Left Ventricular Diastolic Diameter-Peak Stress Relationship before and after Valve Replacement Operation for Patients with Chronic Aortic Regurgitation

Background: Patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) usually have dilated left ventricle due to volume overload. Some of them will reduce in size after elimination of regurgitation, but others not. The present study evaluated the hypothesis that left ventricle end-diastolic diameter ( LVEDD), left ventricle end-systolic diameter (LVESD) are related to left ventricle's peak stress (sigma) both before and after operation. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with chronic aortic regurgitation receiving valve replacement were included in the study. LVEDD, LVESD, and sigma were determined by echocardiography and cuff sphygmomanometer measurement before and beyond 6 months after operation. Results: The results showed that LVEDD, LVESD, and sigma were decreased after the operation. In addition, sigma and LVEDD had good linear correlation (for pre-operative data, sigma = - 3.02 + 0.286* LVEDD, R = 0.556, P < 0.001; for post- operative data, sigma = - 11.4 + 0.474* LVEDD, R = 0. 736, P < 0.001). Conclusion: LVEDD and sigma had a linear relationship before and after valve replacement operation for AR patients. The higher slope in linear regression equation for post-operative sigma-LVEDD relationship than that for pre-operative data may indicate improved myocardial contractile efficiency after the operation