Decreased right ventricular function after coronary artery bypass grafting

Decreased right ventricular function after coronary artery bypass grafting is a common and well-known (if not well-understood) phenomenon. We prospectively evaluated right ventricular function via echocardiographic tricuspid annular motion, tricuspid annular velocity, and right ventricular strain analysis before and after coronary artery bypass grafting. We also evaluated the effect of right coronary artery disease and revascularization on post-coronary artery bypass grafting, right ventricular function, and interventricular septal motion. We performed baseline echocardiography in 250 candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting, and we repeated echocardiography In 240 of those patients I year after coronary artery bypass grafting. We evaluated right ventricular function via tricuspid annular motion, rig tricuspid annular velocity, and right ventricular strain analysis, all measured at the right ventricular free wall. Right ventricular function as evaluated by tricuspid annular motion showed a significant reduction 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting (27.7 vs 12.1 mm; P < 0.001) compared with preoperative measurements. Right ventricular tissue velocty (14.0 vs 70 cm/s; P < 0.001) and right ventricular strain (20.3% vs 11.6%; P < 0.001) were also significantly reduced after coronary artery bypass grafting. Interventricular septal motion was paradoxical in 97% of the patients 1 year after coronary bypass. Right ventricular function remained depressed for as long as 1 year after coronary artery bypass grafting. These findings were independent of the state of the right coronary artery and the graft. It is likely that the interventricular septum is recruited to maintain right ventricular stroke volume after coronary artery bypass grafting.