Aim To analyze survival of patients with COVID-19 based on echocardiographic (EchoCG) criteria for evaluation of the right ventricular (RV) systolic function. Material and methods Data of patients were retrospectively evaluated at the Center for Medical Care of Patients with Coronavirus Infection. Among 142 primarily evaluated patients with documented COVID-19, 110 patients (men/women, 63/47; mean age, 62.3 ± 15.3 years) met inclusion/exclusion criteria. More than 30 EchoCG parameters were analyzed, and baseline data (comorbidities, oxygen saturation, laboratory data, complications, outcomes, etc.) were evaluated. ROC-analysis was used for evaluating the diagnostic significance of different EchoCG parameters for prediction of a specific outcome and its probability. Dependence of the overall survival of patients on different EchoCG parameters was analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards model. For assessing the predictive value of EchoCG parameters for patient stratification by risk of an adverse outcome, a predictive model was developed using the CHAID method. Results The in-hospital death rate of patients included into the study was 15.5 %, and the death rate for this period of in-hospital observation was 12 %. Based on the single-factor analysis of EchoCG parameters, a multifactor model was developed using the method of Cox regression. The model included two predictors for an unfavorable outcome, estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (EPASP) and maximal indexed right atrial volume (RAi), and a preventive factor, right ventricular global longitudinal strain (LS RV). Base risks for fatal outcome were determined with an account of the follow-up time. According to the obtained values, an increase in EPASP by 1 mm Hg was associated with increases in the risk of fatal outcome by 8.6 % and in the RA(i) volume by 1 ml/5.8 %. LS RV demonstrated an inverse correlation; a 1% increase in LS RV was associated with a 13.4% decrease in the risk for an unfavorable outcome. According to the ROC analysis, the most significant determinants of the outcome were the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (AUC, 0.84 ± 0.06; cut-off, 18 mm) and EPASP (AUC, 0.86 ± 0.05; cut-off, 42 mm Hg). Evaluating the effects of different EchoCG predictors, that characterized the condition of the right heart, provided a classification tree. Six final decisions were determined in the model, two of which were assigned to the category of reduced risk for fatal outcome and four were assigned to the category of increased risk. Sensitivity of the classification tree model was 94.1 % and specificity was 89.2 %. Overall diagnostic significance was 90.0±2.9 %. Conclusion The presented models for statistical treatment of EchoCG parameters reflect the requirement for a comprehensive analysis of EchoCG parameters based on a combination of standard methods for EchoCG evaluation and current technologies of noninvasive visualization. According to the study results, the new EchoCG marker, LS RV, allows identifying the signs of right ventricular dysfunction (particularly in combination with pulmonary hemodynamic indexes), may enhance the early risk stratification in patients with COVID-19, and help making clinical decisions for patients with different acute cardiorespiratory diseases.

The absence of consensus regarding the reference values of right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWLS) and its predictive value prompted us to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of publications on the predictive role of this parameter in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).Aim. To study the independent predictive value of RVFWLS in PH patients using 2D/3D speckle tracking echocardiography.Material and methods. Firstly, 317 publications (PubMed) and 857 Google Scholar results were selected. Of the initially identified search results, 12 articles were analyzed. The papers were cohort designed.Results. The total number of patients with PH was 1281. The mean age of patients was 54,7±6,8 years. Four studies compared the RVFWLS with a control group (n=251). The mean RVFWLS were -17,0±2,4% and -24,7±2,2% in the experimental and control groups, respectively. A meta-analysis of the difference between the mean RVFWLS values in experimental and control group patients showed its total increase in PH subjects of 8,06% (95% CI: 5,18-10,94%; p<0,00001).The total number of deaths was 268 (all-cause — 180, composite endpoint — 88). According to the meta-analysis, with an increase of 1% in RVFWLS, there is an increase in mean all-cause mortality risk by 14% (p<0,00001), as well as mean risk of adverse outcomes or PH-related events (composite endpoint) by 14% (p<0,0001).Conclusion. These results highlight the high independent predictive value of RVFWLS as a predictor of adverse outcomes or events associated with a right ventricular dysfunction progression in PH patients.

Aim. To determine the predictive role of estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (ePASP) in COVID-19 patients.Material and methods. A retrospective study of inpatients with documented COVID-19 infection was carried out. Maximal follow-up period was 63 days. The study included 108 patients (men, 62; women, 46; mean age, 62,9±15,5 years). At admission, mean NEWS score was 6,0, blood oxygen saturation — 92%. Echocardiography was performed according to standard protocol using Vivid E9 ultrasound system (GE Healthcare). Quantitative measurements were performed according to the current ASE and EACVI guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics v.26 software (developed by IBM Corporation).Results.Using the CHAID technique, a classification tree was developed and the strongest predictor of an unfavorable outcome was determined (ePASP). Threshold ePASP values, associated with an increased mortality risk were established (42 mm Hg and 50 mm Hg). Three groups of patients were selected based on the main predictor (50 mm Hg). The increased mortality risk was noted in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 of patients and amounted to 31,8% and 70% versus 3,9%, respectively. There was also a correlation between the severity of CT lung parenchymal lesions according to computed tomography and the study groups of patients (36% [30-49%] — group 1, 50% [36-76%] — group 2, and 84% [56-92%] — group 3, p=0,001). In groups 2 and 3, the following complications were significantly more frequent: acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute heart failure, multiple organ system failure, venous thrombosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation. In group 3, acute renal failure and systemic inflammatory response syndrome developed significantly more often than in group 1.Conclusion.A comprehensive echocardiography has proven its availability and safety in assessing the condition of COVID-19 patients, allowing to obtain relevant information on pulmonary hemodynamics. Transthoracic echocardiography reduced the risk of complications from invasive diagnostic methods and allowed to abandon the use of the Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter in the studied group of patients. As a result, a relationship was noted between the increase of ePASP and the severity of clinical performance and lung tissue damage according to computed tomography, changes in laboratory blood tests, the severity of the comorbid profile, an increase in respiratory support need.

In this meta-analysis, we examine the advantages of invasive strategies for patients diagnosed with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD) and preserved left ventricular (LV) function, as well as those with significant LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction (EF) < 45%). Material and methods: We conducted a systematic search to identify all randomized trials directly comparing invasive strategies with optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients diagnosed with chronic CHD. Data from these trials were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. The primary outcome assessed was the all-cause mortality, while secondary endpoints included cardiovascular (CV) death, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and unplanned revascularization. This study was designed to assess the benefits of both invasive strategies and OMT in patients with preserved LV function and in those with LV systolic dysfunction. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted using the Review Manager (RevMan) software, version 5.4.1 (The Cochrane Collaboration, 2020). Results: Twelve randomized studies enrolling 13,912 patients were included in the final analysis. Among the patients with chronic CHD and preserved LV systolic function, revascularization did not demonstrate a reduction in all-cause mortality (8.52% vs. 8.45%, p = 0.45), CV death (3.41% vs. 3.62%, p = 0.08), or the incidence of MI (9.88% vs. 10.49%, p = 0.47). However, the need for unplanned myocardial revascularization was significantly lower in the group following the initial invasive approach compared to patients undergoing OMT (14.75% vs. 25.72%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the invasive strategy emerged as the preferred treatment modality for patients with ischemic LV systolic dysfunction. This approach demonstrated lower rates of all-cause mortality (40.61% vs. 46.52%, p = 0.004), CV death (28.75% vs. 35.82%, p = 0.0004), and MI (8.19% vs. 10.8%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: In individuals diagnosed with chronic CHD and preserved LV EF, the initial invasive approach did not demonstrate a clinical advantage over OMT. Conversely, in patients with ischemic LV systolic dysfunction, myocardial revascularization was found to reduce the risks of CV events and enhance the overall outcomes. These findings hold significant clinical relevance for optimizing treatment strategies in patients with chronic CHD, contingent upon myocardial contractility status.

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of severity of discordant aortic stenosis (AS) assessment using multiposition scanning and the standard apical window. Materials and Methods: All patients (n = 104) underwent preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and were ranked according to the degree of AS severity. The reproducibility feasibility of the right parasternal window (RPW) was 75.0% (n = 78). The mean age of the patients was 64 years, and 40 (51.3%) were female. In 25 cases, low gradients were identified from the apical window not corresponding to the visual structural changes in the aortic valve, or disagreement between the velocity and calculated parameters was detected. Patients were divided into two groups: concordant AS (n = 56; 71.8%) and discordant AS (n = 22; 28.2%). Three individuals were excluded from the discordant AS group due to the presence of moderate stenosis. Results: Based on the comparative analysis of transvalvular flow velocities obtained from multiposition scanning, the concordance group showed agreement between the velocity and calculated parameters. We observed an increase in the mean transvalvular pressure gradient (ΔP_mean) and peak aortic jet velocity (V_max), ΔP_mean in 95.5% of patients, velocity time integral of transvalvular flow (VTI AV) in 90.9% of patients, and a decrease in aortic valve area (AVA) and indexed AVA in 90.9% of patients after applying RPW in all patients with discordant AS. The use of RPW allowed the reclassification of AS severity from discordant to concordant high-gradient AS in 88% of low-gradient AS cases. Conclusion: Underestimation of flow velocity and overestimation of AVA using the apical window may lead to misclassification of AS. The use of RPW helps to match the degree of AS severity with the velocity characteristics and reduce the number of low-gradient AS cases.

One variant of postinfarction ischaemic cardiomyopathy is a dyskinetic or akinetic left ventricular aneurysm. Lateral localisation of the postinfarction aneurysms in the interpapillary space is an extremely rare pathology. As a rule, in postinfarction aneurysms of this localization, intracavitary thrombosis develops with large aneurysm sizes or the formation of a false aneurysm. However, thrombus formation in the area of small aneurysms or postinfarction scar of the sidewall, as observed in our case, is extremely rare.This report describes an extremely rare case of the surgical treatment of thrombosis of the posterior-lateral wall of the left ventricle involving the base of the posteromedial papillary muscle.A 59-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with complaints of weakness and shortness of breath under minimal load. He had experienced a heart attack 5 y previously, as per his coronary angiography and had a multi-vessel lesion of the coronary arteries. According to the results of electrocardiography-scarring changes along the posterior wall of the left ventricle, transthoracic echocardiography-dilation of the left heart, a decrease in the ejection fraction of the left ventricle, akinesia of the posterior and posterolateral walls with floating thrombosis of this zone. Surgical intervention was performed under conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass and pharmaco-cryocardioplegia. The heart cavity was opened with left-sided ventriculotomy along the posterior wall, along the interventricular septum. A blood clot was removed with the excision of the lining area along the posterior-lateral wall. Plastic surgery was performed to isolate the scarred myocardium with a Dacron patch; thereafter, reconstruction of the posterior left ventricular wall was performed with a second patch. Plastic surgery of the posterior wall of the left ventricle was performed. The last stage was performed via coronary bypass surgery of the anterior interventricular artery. The duration of stay in the intensive care unit was 20 h, and the duration of hospitalisation was 9 d. He was discharged in the state corresponding to the Class I–II (New York Heart Association Functional Classification, NYHA).Patients with thrombosed left ventricular aneurysms need surgical treatment, irrespective of the localization of the process for de-escalation of the thrombogenic zone and restoration of the ventricle geometry. However, the choice of surgery is clinically challenging and depends on a deep understanding of the anatomical relationships in the left ventricle as well as the prediction of a positive transformation after left ventricular reconstruction. Despite our extensive experience in the treatment of postinfarction aneurysms, this was the first time we treated a patient with an unusual location of a blood clot.Received 17 April 2020. Revised 28 May 2020. Accepted 3 June 2020.Funding: The study did not have sponsorship.Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.Author contributionsParticipation in the operation: M.D. Alshibaya, M.M. Amirbekov, Z.M. Cheishvili, O.S. Lagutina, I.V. SlivnevaConception and design: M.D. Alshibaya, I.V. SlivnevaDrafting the article: M.D. Alshibaya, I.V. Slivneva, M.M. Amirbekov, Z.M. Cheishvili, O.S. LagutinaCritical revision of the article: M.D. Alshibaya, I.V. Slivneva, M.M. Amirbekov Final approval of the version to be published: M.D. Alshibaya, I.V. Slivneva, M.M. Amirbekov, Z.M. Cheishvili, O.S. Lagutina