Specke Tracking Echocardiography And Filling Pressures

Determining the LV filling pressure is a key element in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected decompensated heart failure. The aim of the present study is to assess whether a systolic 2D-STEderived parameter, global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLPSS), acquired by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is superior to the E/Ea ratio in the estimation of the LVFP measured as the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) in patients during cardiac surgery. Automated function image (AFI) algorithm is a novel method based on 2D strain imaging that enables the simultaneous quantification of myocardial strain in different left ventricular segments; its 3-click method minimizes variability related to a manual training of endocardial border required in an usual 2D-strain analysis. AFI provides GLPSS by averaging mid-oesophageal 4-, 2- chamber and long axis views. The study is a prospective observational single-center cohort study. 30 Patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery will be included in the study group. The study is designed to assess whether GLPSS measured during cardiac surgery using AFI is superior to E/Ea ratio in estimation of LVFP measured as PCWP.