Correlates of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain and Surgical Intervention on Myocardial Bridges

To examine the changes in left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), using two-dimensional speckle tracking analysis, after left anterior descending (LAD) unroofing, in myocardial bridges (MBs) refractory to optimal medical therapy (OMT).

The present study is enrolling all the MBs-patients who underwent angina surgical relief or medical treatment at the "Ospedali Riuniti" of Ancona, Italy, and the "University Hospital" of Chieti, Italy. All the participants will be examined utilizing echocardiography before and after the treatment. The two-dimensional speckle-tracking analysis will be performed with an off-line dedicated software from the apical 4-chambers-view. All the unroofing procedures will be performed under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Myocardial bridge of the anterior descending left coronary artery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Poor echocardiographic imaging quality