Changes in surface electrocardiogram in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy. Correlations with hemodynamic and echocardiographic improvements after surgery.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes of electrocardiographic (ECG) markers of right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy/overload in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) undergoing pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated 99 CTEPH patients who underwent PEA. P wave amplitude in DII, R wave amplitude in V1 and the number of patients with negative T wave in V1-V3 decreased significantly at 1month after surgery with no further change at 1year, in parallel with the rapid improvement in right heart hemodynamics. S wave amplitude in V1, R:S wave ratio in lead V6 and prevalence of SIQIII pattern improved significantly at 1year, in parallel with the progressive reverse remodeling of the right ventricle at echocardiography.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows that some of the ECG markers of RV hypertrophy/overload better reflect RV hemodynamic overload while others better reflect the pathologic remodeling of the right ventricle.