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The impact of right bundle branch block on right ventricular size and function assessed by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography

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Abstract

To determine the influence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) on right ventricular (RV) size and function, we investigated the association between complete RBBB (CRBBB) and RV volume, function, and dyssynchrony by three-dimensional echocardiography. In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, 103 consecutive patients with adequate three-dimensional echocardiographic images were divided into the CRBBB, middle-range QRS, and narrow QRS group. RV volumetric and functional data were compared between the three groups. Among the 103 patients (44.8 ± 18.7 years, 50 men), the CRBBB group comprised 26 (25%) patients and the middle-range QRS group comprised 48 (47%). The CRBBB group showed a significant contraction delay in the RV inlet free wall and outflow tract; larger RV end-diastolic and systolic volume index (RV-EDVI, RV-ESVI); and lower RV systolic function. On dividing the CRBBB patients into two (with or without mechanical dyssynchrony), those with RV dyssynchrony showed larger RV-EDVI (121 ± 45 vs. 85 ± 25 mL/m2, P = 0.019) and RV-ESVI (93 ± 42 vs. 56 ± 20 mL/m2, P = 0.009) and smaller RV ejection fraction (24 ± 11 and 34 ± 11%, P = 0.026) than those without RV dyssynchrony. RV dyssynchrony in CRBBB patients might have an adverse effect on RV volume and function. Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography could provide additional and beneficial data during assessment of RV dyssynchrony.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of the staff at the Tsukuba University Hospital Echocardiography unit (Tsukuba, Japan), with particular thanks to Noriko Iida, Hideki Nakajima, Satomi Nesaki, Yoshiki Shiina, and Rumi Sasamura who acquired the 3D RV images. We would also like to thank Yasuhiko Abe of Canon Medical Systems (Tochigi, Japan) for technical support during ultrasonography. We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.jp) for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Naomi Nakazawa

  2. Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Japan

    Tomoko Ishizu & Yasushi Kawakami

  3. Department of Cardio-Renal Medicine and Hypertension, Faculty of Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan

    Yoshihiro Seo

  4. Department of Cardiology, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Naoto Kawamatsu

  5. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Kimi Sato, Masayoshi Yamamoto, Tomoko Machino-Ohtsuka & Masaki Ieda

  6. Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Hitoshi Horigome

  7. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Yuji Hiramatsu

Authors
  1. Naomi Nakazawa
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  2. Tomoko Ishizu
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  3. Yoshihiro Seo
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  4. Naoto Kawamatsu
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  5. Kimi Sato
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  7. Tomoko Machino-Ohtsuka
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  8. Hitoshi Horigome
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  9. Yuji Hiramatsu
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  10. Masaki Ieda
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  11. Yasushi Kawakami
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Correspondence to Tomoko Ishizu.

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Conflicts of interest

Yoshihiro Seo is conducting joint research with Canon Medical Systems; however, Canon Medical Systems had no role in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and the decision to submit the article for publication.

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Nakazawa, N., Ishizu, T., Seo, Y. et al. The impact of right bundle branch block on right ventricular size and function assessed by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography. Heart Vessels 35, 576–585 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-019-01523-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-019-01523-w

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