title: Changes in right ventricular dimensions and performance after passive cardiac containment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown that the cardiac support device (CSD) improves left ventricular structure and function in patients with heart failure by preventing further cardiac enlargement. The aim of this study was to identify effects on the right ventricle (RV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten male patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy underwent electron-beam computed tomographic (CT) examination within 1 month before, and 6 to 9 months after CSD implantation. The RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV, ESV) and diameters (EDD, ESD), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), total and forward RV output (RVO, fRVO), and tricuspid regurgitation fraction (TRF) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EDV measurements decreased from 182.1 +/- 49.6 to 137.5 +/- 37.0 mL, ESV from 114.8 +/- 47.0 to 68.3 +/- 23.8 mL, EDD from 48.2 +/- 6.6 to 41.6 +/- 7.1 mm, and ESD from 39.6 +/- 6.9 to 32.7 +/- 6.5 mm (p < 0.05 for each). Ejection fraction increased from 38.5 +/- 8.9 to 52.0% +/- 7.7% and fRVO from 4.0 +/- 0.8 to 4.6 +/- 1.1 L/min (each with p < 0.05). TRF decreased from 18.2 +/- 14.1 to 10.4% +/- 13.5%, whereas SV and RVO remained nearly unchanged. Postoperatively, RV volumes, EF, and fRVO were not different from 15 age- and gender-matched normal control patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implantation of a CSD leads to a decrease in RV size and improved RV performance. These data together with the results of previous studies demonstrating improved left ventricular structure and function confirm the biventricular nature of recovery with the CSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Charité Medical School, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany. Alexander.lembcke@gmx.de
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lembcke
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dushe
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sonntag
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kloeters
authors.forename: Christian N H
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Enzweiler
authors.forename: Till H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: Franz-Xaver
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Kleber
authors.forename: Wolfgang F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Konertz
mesh_terms: D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right