Role of 3D Echocardiography Knowledge-based Reconstruction in ACHD

Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is a complex pathophysiology characterised by different factors that affect the right ventricle (RV) performance. Before surgical repair in childhood, the RV is exposed to pressure load with associated abnormal RV outflow tract (RVOT) hypertrophy and myocardial damage related to prolonged cyanosis. After surgical repair involving a pulmonary valve (PV) transannular patch, the RV may experience chronic volume overload due to significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR). The effects of chronic volume overload often found in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients frequently result in progressive RV dilatation with abnormal geometry and RV dysfunction with associated electromechanical dyssynchrony. All this often leads to re-intervention with PV replacement. In asymptomatic patients with severe PR, the 2020 European ACHD guidelines recommendation for PV replacement gives a class 2a recommendation and evidence level C in cases of progressive RV systolic dysfunction and/or dilatation with a RV indexed end-diastolic volume (EDVi) ≥160 mL/m2, and/or a RV indexed end-systolic volume (ESVi) ≥80 mL/m2. The guidelines also mentioned gaps regarding the need for more longitudinal imaging data to optimise time for re-intervention because the possibility for RV remodelling is, at some point, irreversible.

CMR is widely recognised in the literature as the reference standard imaging technique for accurately quantifying RV volume and ejection fraction (EF) in the ACHD population. However, unlike transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), CMR is not the first-line test used in daily clinical practice.

The echocardiographic requirement of conventional multiple non-geometric (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, tissue Doppler imaging, global longitudinal strain) and geometric two-dimensional (2D) parameters (fractional area change, three-dimensional volume and EF) for a more accurate RV size and systolic function assessment is consensual in the literature with global longitudinal strain (GLS) emerging as a simple and effective tool for the management of repaired ToF patients. Also, it is known that conventional three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography systematically underestimates RV volumes and overestimates EF. Therefore, CMR and conventional 3D echo should not be used interchangeably.

Alternatively, 3D knowledge-based reconstruction derived from 2D echocardiography (TTE-3DKBR) has shown to be a valuable tool for RV volume and EF assessment that can complement CMR and maximise the available resources in clinical practice. The literature on TTE-3DKBR in children and adults with ToF indicates a high correlation with CMR, and its potential for clinical follow-up in repaired ToF patients may be relevant. However, the recommendations of the expert consensus documents are also clear that further validation studies are needed before its implementation in clinical practice.

The current longitudinal study aims to further the role of TTE-3DKBR in evaluating the effects of chronic RV volume overload in ACHD repaired ToF patients by assessing its reproducibility and accuracy against CMR and conventional echocardiography measurements, particularly with standard GLS.

Inclusion criteria

Group 1 of healthy adult volunteers - Minimum aged of 18 years old without evidence of structural heart disease.

Group 2 of ACHD patients - ACHD patient minimum aged of 18 years old with diagnosis of moderate or severe pulmonary regurgitation after ToF repair.

Exclusion criteria

Group 1 of healthy adult volunteers - No informed consent, evidence of structural heart disease.

Group 2 of ACHD patients - No informed consent, pacemaker or defibrillator non-compatible with CMR, limited echocardiographic images for image acquisition, and evidence of moderate or severe right ventricle inflow and/or right ventricle outflow tract obstruction.