One-year survival impact of early right ventricular diastolic dysfunction after lung transplantation

Introduction Right ventricular (RV) diastolic dysfunction is known to be associated with increased mortality in heart failure or cardiac surgical patients (pts). However, after lung transplantation (LTx), the impact of early RV diastolic dysfunction on 1-year survival, in a population without pulmonary hypertension, is not well documented. Methods We routinely perform a comprehensive transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) after ICU admission of LTx patients (pts) to check the pulmonary veins’ patency. After exclusion of pts transplanted for pulmonary hypertension and of pts under ECMO, we retrospectively reviewed the diastolic RV parameters acquired during this TOE. At that time, all pts were mechanically ventilated. RV diastolic function was explored by tricuspid peak early and late velocities (E and A waves) (pulsed-wave Doppler (PW) through the tricuspid valve), early diastolic peak velocity (Ea) of the lateral tricuspid annulus (PW-TDI), hepatic venous flow (HVF) pattern (PW Doppler), and characterized as normal or abnormal according to the algorithm validated by Shi et al. One-year survival status was recorded. Continuous variables are presented as median [interquartile range] and analysed with Mann-Whitney U test. Dichotomous variables are presented as numbers (%) and analysed with Chi-Squared test. Results From May 2008 to March 2018, RV diastolic data were available in 69 pts. Indications for LTx were COPD in 51 pts (73.9%), fibrosis in 12 (17.4%), bronchiectasis in 1 pt (1.5%) and other indications in 5 (7.2%). RV diastolic function was categorized as abnormal in 47pts. One-year survival rate was 72.3% (34/47) in the group with early RV diastolic dysfunction and 95.4% (1/22) in the group with normal RV diastolic function (P = 0.027). Discussion Based on these retrospective TOE data in this single-center experience, occurrence of early RV diastolic dysfunction after LTx seems to be associated with impaired 1-year survival. Further prospective data are needed to confirm these preliminary observations.