title: Changes in electrical activation modify the orientation of left ventricular flow momentum: novel observations using echocardiographic particle image velocimetry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Changes in electrical activation sequence are known to affect the timing of cardiac mechanical events. We aim to demonstrate that these also modify global properties of the intraventricular blood flow pattern. We also explore whether such global changes present a relationship with clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We investigated 30 heart failure patients followed up after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). All subjects underwent echocardiography before implant and at follow-up after 6+ months. Left ventricular mechanics was investigated at follow-up during active CRT and was repeated after a temporary interruption <5 min later. Strain analysis, performed by speckle tracking, was used to assess the entity of contraction (global longitudinal strain) and its synchronicity (standard deviation of time to peak of radial strain). Intraventricular fluid dynamics, by echographic particle image velocimetry, was used to evaluate the directional distribution of global momentum associated with blood motion. The discontinuation of CRT pacing reflects into a reduction of deformation synchrony and into the deviation of blood flow momentum from the base-apex orientation with the development of transversal flow-mediated haemodynamic forces. The deviation of flow momentum presents a significant correlation with the degree of volumetric reduction after CRT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in electrical activation alter the orientation of blood flow momentum. The long-term CRT outcome correlates with the degree of re-alignment of haemodynamic forces. These preliminary results suggest that flow orientation could be used for optimizing the biventricular pacing setting. However, larger prospective studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, P.le Europa 1., Trieste 34127, Italy giannip@dica.units.it.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pedrizzetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Monaldi Hospital, AORN Ospedali dei Colli, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Martiniello
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Monaldi Hospital, AORN Ospedali dei Colli, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Monaldi Hospital, AORN Ospedali dei Colli, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Onofrio
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Monaldi Hospital, AORN Ospedali dei Colli, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Pio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caso
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, 'G. d'Annunzio' University, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonti
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: cardiac fluid mechanics; cardiac mechanics; echo-PIV; electrical activation; haemodynamic forces