Left-Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction during Pneumonectomy - a Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study

Left-ventricular dysfunction, with acute increase in capillary pulmonary pressure, can unexpectedly develop in patients submitted to pneumonectomy. In order to study the morphofunctional modifications induced by pneumonectomy on the left cardiac chambers, we performed intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 8 patients (7 males, mean age 66 years) undergoing pneumonectomy for lung cancer. No patient had any cardiac involvement before surgery. The opening of the pericardium was associated with a slight paradoxical movement of the basal interventricular septum. After ligature of the pulmonary artery, the interventricular septum changed its geometry, losing the normal curvature and becoming rectilinear. These changes were related to an increase in right-ventricular (RV) dimensions. In all patients the pulmonary vein flow-profile (pulsed Doppler) showed an increased turbulence, associated with a reduced amplitude (5 patients) or an inversion (3 patients) of the second systolic component and with the development of mild mitral regurgitation (color Doppler). These changes disappeared at the end of intervention, before chest closure. No alteration in left-ventricular systolic function was found. These results suggest that the altered geometry of the interventricular septum, mainly due to acute RV overload, induces a transient left-ventricular diastolic dysfunction, associated with mild mitral regurgitation.

[1]  K. Tanabe,et al.  Effects of Supine and Lateral Recumbent Positions on Pulmonary Venous Flow in Health Subjects Evaluated by Transesophageal Doppler Echocardiography , 1994, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[2]  J. J. Lunn,et al.  Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema. A retrospective analysis of associated variables. , 1993, Chest.

[3]  H. Unruh,et al.  Altered Left Ventricular Chamber Stiffness and Isovolumic Relaxation in Dogs With Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension Caused by Emphysema , 1993, Circulation.

[4]  S. Dong,et al.  Changes in the Radius of Curvature of the Ventricular Septum at End Diastole During Pulmonary Arterial and Aortic Constrictions in the Dog , 1992, Circulation.

[5]  M. Mathru,et al.  Permeability pulmonary edema following lung resection. , 1990, Chest.

[6]  I. Belenkie,et al.  Transseptal pressure gradient and diastolic ventricular septal motion in patients with mitral stenosis. , 1987, Circulation.

[7]  D. Skinner,et al.  Effect of pneumonectomy on extravascular lung water in dogs. , 1985, The Journal of surgical research.

[8]  J. S. Rankin,et al.  Dynamic Ventricular Interaction in the Conscious Dog , 1983, Circulation research.

[9]  F R Badke,et al.  Left ventricular dimensions and function during right ventricular pressure overload. , 1982, The American journal of physiology.

[10]  P. Ludbrook,et al.  Influence of Right Ventricular Hemodynamics on Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressure-Volume Relations in Man , 1979, Circulation.

[11]  S A Glantz,et al.  The Pericardium Substantially Affects the Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressure‐Volume Relationship in the Dog , 1978, Circulation research.

[12]  A. Weyman,et al.  Mechanism of Abnormal Septal Motion in Patients with Right Ventricular Volume Overload: A Cross‐sectional Echocardiographic Study , 1976, Circulation.

[13]  Lewis Bs,et al.  Left ventricular diastolic pressure-volume relations in man. , 1976 .

[14]  J. Mitchell,et al.  Dimensional changes of the left ventricle during acute pulmonary arterial hypertension in dogs. , 1974, The American journal of cardiology.

[15]  J. Kirklin,et al.  Atrial Septal Defect , 1955, The Surgical clinics of North America.