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Postoperative evaluation of left atrial stiffness in patients with congenital heart diseases

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Abstract

Left atrial (LA) stiffness is one of the most important factors involved in LA remodeling. LA stiffness has rarely been studied postoperatively in patients with congenital heart diseases (CHDs). This study aimed to evaluate LA stiffness in CHD patients postoperatively. Seventy-five patients (CHDs, 67; controls, 8; age range, 10–41 years) who underwent cardiac catheterization at our institution were included in this study. From the pulmonary artery wedge pressure waveform obtained during cardiac catheterization, the pressure range between the v wave and x trough was determined, and this value was divided by the LA reservoir strain obtained by echocardiography to calculate LA stiffness, as previously reported. LA stiffness was significantly higher in postoperative CHD patients than in controls (0.28 ± 0.17 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03, p = 0.001). Nineteen of 52 (37%) patients in their teens, 8 of 11 (73%) patients in their 20 s, and 1 of 4 (25%) patients aged > 30 years had elevated LA stiffness values. In particular, all patients with an LA reservoir strain < 20% had elevated LA stiffness. In postoperative CHD patients, LA stiffness was frequently elevated from a young age. CHD patients with elevated LA stiffness should be cautious of possible LA dysfunction in the future.

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Data availability statement

Raw data were generated at Asahikawa Medical University. Derived data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author H.O. on request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

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This research did not receive specific grants from any funding agency, or commercial or non-profit entities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University, 2-1-1-1, Midorigaoka-Higashi, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8510, Japan

    Hideharu Oka, Kouichi Nakau, Yuki Shibagaki, Keita Ito, Yuki Sasaki, Rina Imanishi, Sorachi Shimada & Satoru Takahashi

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  1. Hideharu Oka
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  2. Kouichi Nakau
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  3. Yuki Shibagaki
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  4. Keita Ito
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  7. Sorachi Shimada
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  8. Satoru Takahashi
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Correspondence to Hideharu Oka.

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Oka, H., Nakau, K., Shibagaki, Y. et al. Postoperative evaluation of left atrial stiffness in patients with congenital heart diseases. Heart Vessels 39, 117–122 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-023-02313-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00380-023-02313-1

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