3D echo assessment of RV function in PTE surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Three-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in patients undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy
IRAS ID
171862
Contact name
Andrew Klein
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 2 days
Research summary
Pulmonary endarterectomy is a specialised surgical procedure undertaken in patients with a condition called chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
Affected patients have suffered from pulmonary emboli (blood clots) in the past, which had led to the obstruction of blood flow through the lungs. Because of the increased resistance to flow through the lungs, the right side of the heart needs to work harder to pump, and with time can begin to fail.
This condition leads to symptoms of exertional breathlessness, chest pain and can have a significant impact on quality of life, as well as shortening patient's life expectancy.Pulmonary (thrombo)endarterectomy surgery involves removal of the obstructing material from the blood vessels in the lungs. The surgery has been shown to significantly improve cardiovascular function, symptoms, and life expectancy of patients with this condition. ?
The function of the right side of the heart can be difficult to assess because it has a complex structure, and many studies have shown however that following cardiac surgery, it's pattern of contraction changes. It is important for us to have good tests to assess right heart function, but many of the currently used indices are flawed. It is common for right heart function to be reported to have declined following PTE surgery for example, however we would expect it to improve.
?
It is possible that this observed decline in function following surgery may actually be due to measurement error because the current standards of measuring perioperative right heart function are not accurate.The aim of this study therefore is to assess the right heart function around the time of the operation, and at subsequent outpatient followup (approximately 6 months postoperatively), using a 3-dimensional reconstruction of the ventricle (acquired via echocardiogram - an ultrasound examination of the heart) to accurately define the right ventricular ejection fraction.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0069
Date of REC Opinion
9 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion