Right ventricular assessment in patients undergoing transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an alternative treatment option to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in selected high-risk patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of right ventricular (RV) functional imaging to predict clinical response to TAVR and SAVR. Methods One hundred and ten patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) undergoing successful TAVR and 32 controls undergoing SAVR were prospectively enrolled. Six months follow up (FU) included two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with RV deformation imaging. Results Baseline TTE showed no significant differences between groups (TAVR and SAVR) in conventional left ventricular (LV) and RV functional parameters (LV ejection fraction [LV-EF]: p = .21; tricuspidal annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE]: 1.8 +/- 0.5 cm, 1.9 +/- 0.4 cm, p = .21), and RV strain (right ventricular-global longitudinal strain [RV-GLS] -11.6 +/- 5.2%, -11.5 +/- 6.5%, p = .70). At FU LV function was unchanged in both groups (p > .05); RV function was significantly improved after TAVR (RV-GLS: -11.6 +/- 5.2%, -13.4 +/- 6.1%, p = .005; TAPSE: 1.8 +/- 0.5 cm, 1.9 +/- 0.3 cm, p = .05), and worsened after SAVR (RV-GLS: -11.5 +/- 6.5%, -8.9 +/- 5.2%, p = .04; TAPSE: 1.9 +/- 0.4 cm, 1.5 +/- 0.3 cm, p < .001). Functional New York Heart Association (NYHA) class remained unchanged in patients after SAVR (p = .21), and improved after TAVR (p < .001). Baseline RV function was linked with clinical response to TAVR (TAPSE, p < .0001; RV-GLS, p = .04), and the development of RV-GLS was associated with functional worsening after SAVR (p = .05). Conclusion Baseline RV function and changes of right heart mechanics are closely associated with functional improvements after AVR. SAVR, but not TAVR, seems to have detrimental effects on RV-function.