Association Between Portal Flow Pulsatility and Right Ventricular Dysfunction in the Postoperative Period of Cardiac Surgery

The postoperative right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) after cardiac surgery has been described since the 1990s. It is associated to various pathophysiological mechanisms, including ischemia from prolonged aortic clamping, cardioplegia defects, myocardial injury, and ischemia-reperfusion phenomena.

Many studies have observed reduced right ventricular function intraoperatively through transthoracic echocardiographic parameters like TAPSE, fractional area change, and longitudinal strain. However, accurately assessing RVD is challenging, as these parameters can be affected post-surgery without indicating true ventricular failure.

In this context, obtaining reliable and robust invasive hemodynamic measurements is crucial for accurate assessment of RVD.

The pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), or Swan-Ganz catheter remains the gold standard, providing precise information on right ventricular systolic and diastolic function, pulmonary artery pressures, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, venous oxygen saturation, and cardiac output.

In cardiac surgery, venous congestion resulting from right ventricular dysfunction is closely associated with increased mortality, leading to renal and hepatic failure. Tools like Doppler ultrasound (of renal, portal, and hepatic veins) can predict renal failure risk.

Researchers developed the VEXUS score in 2020 to assess this risk, and recent research found an association between 50% portal flow pulsatility and RVD.

However, some aspects remain to be clarified, such as the significant association between portal venous flow pulsatility and altered TAPSE.

This prospective study aims to examine the association between portal flow pulsatility and right ventricular dysfunction after cardiac surgery.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient aged at least 18 years
• Patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and presenting at least one risk factor for postoperative complications, including:

• Patient over 60 years old
• Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%
• Surgery involving both coronary artery bypass grafting and valve procedures
• Mitral valve surgery
• Preoperative creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min
• Patient having signed the informed consent form in accordance with regulations
• Patient covered by social security or an equivalent healthcare system

Exclusion criteria

• Patient presenting a confounding factor for altered portal flow:

• Tricuspid regurgitation greater than grade 2
• Known cirrhosis
• Patient with intrahepatic arteriovenous malformations
• Patient at risk for pulmonary artery catheter insertion:

• Tricuspid valve surgery
• Pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in place
• Patient with an esophageal tract abnormalities contraindicating transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Patient unable to understand the information provided
• Patient under guardianship, curatorship, or legal protection
• Patients deprived of liberty