Speckle‐Tracking Imaging to Monitor Myocardial Function After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

• Published in: Journal of ultrasound in medicine Vol. 32; no. 11; pp. 1951 - 1956
• Main Authors: Yin, Zhe-Yu, Li, Xiao-Feng, Tu, Ying-Feng, Dong, Dan-Dan, Zhao, Dong-Liang, Shen, Baozhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; China - epidemiology; Coronary Artery Bypass - statistics & numerical data; coronary artery bypass graft; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - epidemiology; Coronary Artery Disease - surgery; coronary heart disease; echocardiography; Echocardiography - statistics & numerical data; Elasticity Imaging Techniques - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Reproducibility of Results; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; speckle-tracking imaging; Treatment Outcome; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - diagnostic imaging; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - epidemiology; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - surgery; speckle-tracking imaging; coronary heart disease; coronary artery bypass graft; echocardiography
• ISSN: 0278-4297; 1550-9613
• DOI: 10.7863/ultra.32.11.1951

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in myocardial function in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using longitudinal and circumferential strain on speckle‐tracking imaging. Methods A total of 145 patients who successfully underwent CABG surgery with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 50% or greater were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified into 4 groups based on age: group 1 (33–59 years), group 2 (60–64 years), group 3 (65–69 years), and group 4 (70–79 years). Routine echocardiography and longitudinal and circumferential strain measurements on speckle‐tracking imaging were performed 1 week before and 1, 3, and 6 months after the CABG. Results In all groups, longitudinal strain increased significantly at 3 and 6 months after CABG therapy compared to baseline (P < .05). A significant increase in circumferential strain was found 1 month after the CABG in groups 1, 2, and 3, and a continuous increase in the parameter was observed in all groups 3 months after therapy (P < .05). However, the LVEF, left ventricular end‐diastolic dimension, and stroke volume measured by routine echocardiography were not significantly changed after successful CABG treatment in all groups during 6 months of follow‐up. Conclusions Based on the results of our study in all age groups, speckle‐tracking imaging parameters are more effective than the LVEF, left ventricular end‐diastolic dimension, and stroke volume for monitoring improvement in myocardial function after CABG surgery.