Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Advanced Heart Failure

Assessment of Right Ventricular Function in Advanced Heart Failure: Feasibility and Reliability of Right Ventricular Elastance

We examined the feasibility and reliability of a combined echocardiographic and right heart catheterization (RHC) approach for right ventriculo/arterial (R-V/A) coupling assessment in HF patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (D-CMP).

This is a single center, retrospective cross-sectional study. In 2016-17, for 6 months, we evaluated for eligibility 81 consecutive D-CMP patients afferent to "Niguarda Great Metropolitan Hospital" for RHC and echocardiography. All participants underwent the exams in the context of heart-transplant or advanced HF evaluation. Inclusion criteria were: 18 years old, given informed consent, D-CMP, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III and reduced EF (≤ 35%). On the contrary, exclusion criteria were: missing the inclusion criteria and refused informed consent. The final sample consisted of 68 study participants (mean age 64±7 years, 82 % male).

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years old
• Given informed consent
• D-CMP
• New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II or III
• Reduced EF (≤ 35%)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Missing the inclusion criteria
• Refused informed consent