Right ventricular myocardial motion and deformation in adolescents and young adults after repair of coarctation of the aorta

Background Alteration of right ventricular (RV) function has been found in patients with pressure-loaded left ventricles due to systemic hypertension and aortic stenosis. We tested the hypothesis that RV mechanics are altered in adolescents and adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Methods Twenty-eight (15 male) patients, aged 23.7 ± 6.5 years, and 28 (14 male) controls were studied. M-mode, tissue Doppler imaging, and speckle tracking echocardiography were performed to assess, respectively, LV mass and RV wall thickness, RV myocardial tissue velocities, and deformation. Systolic (P = 0.14) and diastolic (P = 0.32) blood pressures were similar between patients and controls. Results Compared with controls, patients had significantly greater LV mass (P = 0.016) and RV anterior wall thickness (P = 0.012). Tricuspid annular systolic (P