title: Impact of restrictive physiology on intrinsic diastolic right ventricular function and lusitropy in children and adolescents after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Restrictive right ventricular (RV) physiology is a phenomenon considered potentially beneficial when detected in children and adolescents with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). It is typically characterised by antegrade flow in the pulmonary artery in late diastole at the time of atrial contraction. However, little is known about the impact of restrictive physiology on intrinsic diastolic RV function or lusitropy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diastolic function was prospectively assessed at baseline level and during dobutamine infusion using the pressure-volume conductance system. End diastolic forward flow in the pulmonary artery was measured by MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients aged 17.9±7.5 years were studied. Although the end diastolic RV pressure, the time constant of isovolumic RV relaxation (τ) and dP/dtmin were similar between both groups, the slope of the end diastolic pressure-volume relationship (Eed) was significantly higher in the restrictive group indicating increased diastolic stiffness in these patients (0.14±0.05 vs 0.06±0.01, p=0.03). Dobutamine stress, however, led to an increase in Eed in the entire ToF cohort indicating an abnormal diastolic response to catecholamines in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diastolic RV stiffness of repaired ToF patients with restrictive physiology is increased. The lusitropic response of the RV to β adrenergic agents is abnormal after ToF repair regardless of whether restrictive physiology is present or not. This has potential implications, particularly for postoperative drug management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children’s Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany. capitz@aol.com
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Apitz
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Latus
authors.forename: Wolfhard
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uebing
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seeger
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bretschneider
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sieverding
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofbeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002648:Child; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004280:Dobutamine; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine