Right ventricle in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation.
Eighteen patients were examined by echocardiography one month before, and one month after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). The right-heart echocardiographic parameters were compared with pulmonary haemodynamics. All recipients showed increased mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (42 +/- 8 mmHg) and pulmonary vascular resistance 3.0 +/- 1.3 u.) before OHT. The causes of the pulmonary hypertension, and indications for OHT, were the end stage of dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 8), ischaemic heart disease (n = 9) and aortic valve disease (n = 1). After transplantation, the donor's right ventricle dilates due to the recipient's elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. The right ventricular dimension after OHT was greater than 30 mm in 1/3 of patients. The right ventricular diastolic dimension correlates statistically significantly with mean PAP of the recipient before the procedure. Right ventricular dilatation is accompanied by a mild degree of tricuspid insufficiency (in 89% of cases), as documented by Doppler examination. Neither the degree of right ventricular dilatation, nor the degree of tricuspid insufficiency show a tendency to progression during follow-up.
Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
P
P
Frídl
J
J
Horák
J
J
Fabián
V
V
Kocandrle
D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000503:physiopathology; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000601:surgery; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*