Detection of Right Ventricular Dysfunction by Portal Vein Doppler After Cardiac Surgery

Right ventricular (RV) failure after cardiac surgery is associated with morbidity and mortality, but is hard to diagnose with conventional echocardiographic means. RV dysfunction may be associated with hepatic congestion, which may have an effect on portal veinous flow, but this has not been extensively. The investigators aimed determine whether an increased pulsatility in the portal venous flow was associated with RV dysfunction, after cardiac surgery at risk of RV dysfunction: mitral and tricuspid valve procedures.

In cardiac surgical patients, RV dysfunction is associated with organ hypoperfusion and venous congestion leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Non-invasive methods used to assess RV function are 2D-echocardiographic measurement of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), RV ejection fraction (EF), RV fractional area change (FAC), 3D assessment of RV function, tissue Doppler assessment of velocities, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Though MRI is the gold standard method to assess RV function, it cannot be used in the perioperative period. In the present prospective observational study, The investigators investigated the association between the pattern of portal venous flow and RV function as assessed by echocardiography in the postoperative period.