Right Ventricular Myocardial Tissue Velocities, Myocardial Performance Index, and Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion in Totally Corrected Tetralogy of Fallot Patients

BACKGROUND: Longer survival after the total repair of the Tetralogy of Fallot increases the importance of late complications such as right ventricular dysfunction. This is a prospective study of the right ventricular function in totally corrected Tetralogy of Fallot patients versus healthy children. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy children were prospectively compared with 30 totally corrected Tetralogy of Fallot patients. Right ventricular myocardial tissue velocities, right ventricular myocardial performance index, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were investigated as well as the presence and severity of pulmonary regurgitation. RESULTS: The two groups were age-and sex-matched. Mean systolic peak velocity (Sa) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were significantly decreased, while myocardial performance index and early to late diastolic velocity (Ea/Aa) were significantly increased in the Tetralogy of Fallot patients. Early diastolic velocity (Ea) showed no significant difference between the two groups. Sa correlated significantly with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in both the normal children and totally corrected Tetralogy of Fallot patients. Myocardial performance index was significantly higher in the patients with moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation than in those with mild regurgitation. However, there was no significant correlation between this index and right ventricular myocardial tissue velocities. CONCLUSION: In this study, systolic right ventricular function indices (Sa and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion) were impaired in the totally corrected Tetralogy of Fallot patients. Myocardial performance index was affected by the severity of pulmonary regurgitation.