Preoperative Right Ventricular Tei Index as a High-Risk Marker for Adverse Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

PURPOSE: Cardiovascular surgery entails considerable risk because of its complexity and the frequency of perioperative complications. The right ventricular Tei index (RV-TI) provides an integrated measure of ventricular performance, encompassing systolic and diastolic function. Although not widely applied in this setting, its role as a predictor of outcomes is promising. This study evaluated the utility of RV-TI in predicting postoperative complications in patients undergoing diverse cardiovascular surgeries, emphasizing its value for surgical risk stratification and patient management.

METHODS

A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, including 195 adults who underwent cardiac surgery between June 2022 and April 2023. RV-TI was obtained by transthoracic tissue Doppler, using 0.53 as the abnormal cutoff. One hundred and forty-nine patients had normal RV-TI values, while 46 were classified as abnormal.

RESULTS

Abnormal RV-TI correlated with diabetes mellitus, advanced age, and vasoplegic syndrome. These patients experienced higher in-hospital mortality and more severe complications, including the need for renal replacement therapy, pneumonia, delirium, and greater transfusion requirements.

CONCLUSION

RV-TI appears to be a valuable adjunct in preoperative risk assessment for cardiac surgery. Its incorporation into clinical practice could improve patient selection and decision-making, contributing to better surgical outcomes.