Evaluation of right-ventricular function by two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in patients with successful RCA CTO recanalization

OBJECTIVES: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the right coronary artery (RCA) is common in patients with coronary artery disease. Although revascularization techniques and success rates have improved significantly in recent years, there are still no studies investigating possible effects of successful recanalization of RCA CTO on the right-ventricular (RV) function. With this study, we aimed to evaluate RV function after recanalization of the RCA by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2DE) and additional two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). METHODS AND RESULTS: Our analysis included 102 patients undergoing successful RCA CTO recanalization at the University Medical Center of Mainz. All patients underwent 2DE and 2DSTE to assess RV function before PCI procedure and 6 months after successful revascularization. We found an altered RV function in our collective at baseline assessed by 2DSTE with a significant improvement at 6 month follow-up (baseline RV free wall strain: − 20.7 [− 6.3 to − 32.0] % vs. − 23.4 [− 8.3 to − 39.3] % at follow-up, p < 0.001 and baseline RV global strain − 15.9 [− 6.0 to − 25.7] % vs. − 17.9 [− 7.0 to − 29.5] % at follow-up, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: RV function was altered in patients with RCA CTO and showed significant improvement after successful recanalization. We also noticed an improvement in patient-reported clinical symptoms. Our study suggests that CTO procedure is a beneficial treatment option in symptomatic patients with RCA CTO.