Assessment of Right Ventricular Function Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation – The Role of Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Right ventricular failure (RVF) following Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation is associated with worse outcomes. Prediction and early identification of RVF with speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) has been proposed. Methods: We queried multiple databases for articles reporting on pre-operative/intraoperative global longitudinal strain (GLS) and free-wall strain (FWS) in LVAD recipients. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature. The standard mean difference (SMD) in GLS and FWS in patients with and without RVF postoperatively was pooled using random effects model. Results: Fifteen studies, with a total of 967 LVAD recipients were included. There was statistically significant difference in GLS among patients who did and did not develop RVF; SMD= -3.09 (95% CI: -4.62 to -1.57; p-value