The effects of QRS duration on left ventricular systolic synchronicity in patients with heart failure by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography

Objective To assess the effects of QRS duration on left ventricular systolic synchronicity in patients with heart failure by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE).Methods Thirty-four patients with heart failure(LVEF≤35%)were selected and divided into two groups.Group A consisted of 20 patients with normal QRS duration,and group B included 14 patients with long ORS duration.All the patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography(2DE)and RT-3DE respectively.Parameters including left ventricular inlernal diameter(LVIDd),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)of 2DE,and left ventricular endsystolic volume(LVESV),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV),LVEF,the time to minimal systolic volume of 16-segmental standard deviation as a ratio of R-R interval(Tmsv16-sd/RR)of RT-3DE were obtained and analyzed between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences of LVIDd,LVEF acquired by 2DE between the two groups(P＞0.05);LVESV,LVEDV,Tmsv16-sd/RR of RT-3DE were slightly higher in group B than those in group A,but didn't reach the significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The mechanical dyssynchrony maybe related to the severity of heart failure.Conclusions RT-3DE can quantify global left ventricular systolic synchronicity.QRS duration has no significant effect on left ventricular systolic synchronicity in patients with heart failure. Key words: Echocardiography,real-time three-dimentional; Heart failure,congestive; Ventricular function,left