Characteristic echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular systolic dysfunction in acute dyspnea patients

Funding Acknowledgements: The work was supported by the Research Council of Lithuania, grant Nr. MIP-049/2015 and approved by Lithuanian Bioethics Com- mittee, Nr. L-15-01. Introduction: There is still a discussion about the best echocardiographic parame- ters of acute right ventricular systolic dysfunction (RVSD) in acute settings. Aim: To estimate the prevalence and to characterize RVSD by novel ultrasound parameters of RV longitudinal function, morphometric right heart parameters, asso- ciation with left ventricular (LV) systolic function and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level in acute dyspnea patients. Methods: Prospective study enrolled consecutive patients admitted to the emer- gency department of two university centers with acute dyspnea due to decom- pensated heart failure (HF) and other reasons. Data of 323 patients (mean age 68.8 ± 12.7 years, 39.3% women) were analysed. Echocardiography focused on RV parameters was performed during the first 48 hours after admission. TAPSE (tricus- pid annular plane systolic excursion), RV S’ (velocity of the tricuspid annular systolic motion), FAC (fractional area change), right atrial (RA) area, RV basal diameter, RV strain of 3 and 6 segments were measured. Blood sample for BNP level was taken during the first 4 hours. The RVSD was defined by reduced FAC 1000 ng/l – 47.78% (p = 0.006).[...]