J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2016 Mar;24(1):35-39. 10.4250/jcu.2016.24.1.35.

2-Dimensional Strain Analysis of Regional Change in Right Ventricular Function after Treadmill Exercise

• Yoon SJ
• Seo HS
• Park S
• Chung WJ

• KMID: 2160993
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2016.24.1.35

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Function of right ventricle (RV) influences on symptoms and prognosis in various diseases. However the regional RV function analyzed with 2-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography before and just after treadmill test has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to show the change of regional RV function just after treadmill exercise with strain analysis.
METHODS
A total of thirty eight patients who visited hospital for hypertension, chest pain or dyspnea between January 2007 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed (men, 47.4%; mean age, 54.9 ± 7.2 years). Treadmill exercise test and pre and post echocardiography were performed. 2D strain echocardiography was analyzed off line in RV free wall and septum.
RESULTS
Mean exercise duration was 737 ± 132 sec. Tissue velocity in lateral tricuspid annulus is significantly increased in post exercise (initial, 10.5 ± 2.4 cm/sec vs. post exercise, 12.2 ± 1.8 cm/sec, p = 0.006). Systolic strain of RV free wall apex and mid portion were significantly changed in post exercise stage (free wall apex, -18.2 ± 7.6% vs. -22.3 ± 5.8%, p = 0.010; free wall mid, -14.1 ± 6.7% vs. -22.6 ± 6.8%, p = 0.022).
CONCLUSION
2D strain imaging provides a precise tool to quantify regional RV function and reveals a characteristic regional pattern of RV after treadmill exercise.

Keyword

Exercise test; Right ventricular function; 2-dimensional strain echocardiography

MeSH Terms

Chest Pain
Dyspnea
Echocardiography
Exercise Test
Heart Ventricles
Humans
Hypertension
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Ventricular Function, Right*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Systolic regional velocity of right ventricle after exercise. There is significant change of systolic velocity at right ventricular free wall apex after exercise. *p < 0.05.

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  Fig. 2 Systolic regional strain of right ventricular after exercise. There is significant change of systolic strain at right ventricular free wall apex and mid portion after exercise. *p < 0.05.

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  Fig. 3 Systolic regional strain rate of right ventricle after exercise. There is no significant change of systolic strain rate of right ventricle after exercise.

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