Right ventricular function assessment in single LAD lesion patients using strain and strain rate imaging

Background: Strain and strain rate imaging is currently the most popular echocardiographic technique that reveals subclinical myocardial damage, and data are not available on this imaging method with regard to assessing right ventricular involvement in single LAD lesion.Aim: To evaluate right ventricular regional functions using strain and strain rate imaging tissue Doppler method in patients with single LAD lesion.Methods: The patient group was composed of 60 patients who had experienced first anterior myocardial infarction and had undergone successful percutaneous coronary intervention for LAD lesion. Twenty patients were selected for the control group. The right ventricular myocardial samplings were performed in three regions: the basal, mid, and apical segments of the lateral wall. The individual myocardial velocity, strain, and strain rate values of each basal, mid, and apical segment were obtained.Results: The right ventricular tissue Doppler parameters (Sm, E, A, E/A ratio, IVA, E/E00) of the patients group were significantly decreased than controls. In addition, changes in the right ventricular mean strain and strain rate values were significantly lower in patient group than controls.Conclusion: Right ventricular involvement in LAD lesion patient is significant even after PCI and recanalization of LAD. TDI, strain and strain rate are new, useful imaging techniques for detection of subclinical RV dysfunction in patients with LAD lesion