Background: Considering the importance of ventricular-vascular coupling, a measure of arterial stiffness may reflect global myocardial performance. We evaluated the predictive value of common carotid arterial circumferential strain (CCA CirS), measured with ultrasound speckle tracking, for hemodynamic deterioration during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) and assessed its association with echocardiographic indices of myocardial function.
Methods and results: Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% were enrolled. Intraoperative hemodynamic variables were compared in relation to CCA CirS tertiles. A total of 96 patients were analyzed. Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) during left circumflex artery grafting and sternum closure were lower in the first tertile than in the third tertile. On univariate logistic regression female gender, ratio of early transmitral velocity to annular velocity, pulse pressure, and CCA CirS were predictors of hemodynamic deterioration (defined as decrease in SvO2≥20%), while only CCA CirS remained as an independent predictor after multivariate analysis (OR, 0.27; 95% CI: 0.11-0.68). Area under the curve of CCA CirS for its prediction was 0.730 (95% CI: 0.608-0.852). CCA CirS was strongly associated with tissue Doppler-derived parameters of LV function.
Conclusions: CCA CirS is a comprehensive marker reflecting LV function, and a predictor for hemodynamic deterioration during OPCAB in patients with preserved LVEF.