Study Objective: To investigate whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) can provide accurate information on right ventricular (RV) function in patients with right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis, given that a decrease in blood supply from the RCA may invalidate the use of single 2-D echocardiography imaging plane as a guide to RV function.
Design: Prospective, nonblinded study.
Setting: University hospital.
Patients: 30 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac or vascular procedures.
Interventions: Patients were classified into two groups according to the presence or absence of the proximal RCA (segment 1 or 2) stenosis. Group A patients had no obstructive lesions in the proximal RCA (n = 15). Group B patients had 75% or greater obstructive lesions in the proximal RCA (n = 15).
Measurements and Main Results: After induction of anesthesia, RV function was evaluated by both fast-response thermodilution Pulmonary artery catheter and TEE. Transesophageal echocardiography-derived RV fractional area change (FAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion ratio (TAPSE ratio) were compared with thermodilution-derived RV ejection fraction (EF) using linear regression analysis. Transesophageal echocardiography-derived RV end-diastolic area (EDA) was compared with thermodilution-derived end-diastolic volume (EDV). Both methods showed a good correlation in RV, EDV, and EF in Group A, but no correlations in Group B.
Conclusions: Transesophageal echocardiography does not provide reliable information on RVEF and EDV when proximal RCA stenosis is Present. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc.