The Scientific Journal of Al-Azhar Medical Faculty, Girls | 2019
Ventricular ejection time: a noninvasive echocardiographic parameter for assessment of severity of congestive heart failure in cardiomyopathic patients
Abstract
Background Due to the burden of heart failure (HF) disease, a simple utilized noninvasive tool for identifying its severity in patients is indicated. Timing of mechanical cardiac events, especially left ventricle (LV) ejection, studied since 40 years using a phonocardiogram, an ECG, and echocardiography. This approach is useful, helpful, and valuable for many clinical uses and applications. Aim The aim was to clarify the validity of right ventricle ejection time (RVET) and left ventricle ejection time (LVET) to assess the severity of HF in dilated cardiomyopathic patients by their correlation with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class as a clinical assessment of severity of HF. Patients and methods The enrolled 85 cases included 55 myopathic patients and 30 age-matched and sex-matched healthy persons who served as the control group. All cases underwent complete transthoracic echocardiography study to measure LV and right ventricle (RV) dimensions, volumes, and functions. LV and RVET are calculated and correlated with NYHA functional class. Results Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy had significantly increased RV volumes (P<0.001) and significantly lower RV and LV systolic functions. In addition, there was significant decreased LVET and RVET in the cardiomyopathic patients group versus the normal group. Moreover, RVET and LVET had a significant correlation with NYHA functional class (RVET (r=−0.013, P<0.00001), LVET (r=−0.06, P<0.00001). Conclusion Right ventricular dysfunction is common in dilated cardiomyopathy. LVET and RVET is considered a reliable indicator and simple noninvasive means for clinical assessment of severe HF by using the NYHA functional class.