61 year-old male with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)
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61 year-old male with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR)

Cardiovascular Rehabilitation

The case

Description:

  • A male patient (61 years old, non-smoker, BMI 24.8 kg/m2) has a history of congenital corvitium, type Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR) and patent foramen ovale (PFO).
  • He contacted us for a diagnostic work-up of reduced exercise tolerance and exercise-induced dyspnea (NYHA II) of unknown origin.
  • He takes no medication.
  • His baseline clinical examination is normal.
  • The baseline electrocardiogram is shown in Figure 1.
  • His N-Terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) level was 124 pg/ml.

Figure 1. Baseline ECG of patient.
Figure 1. Baseline ECG of patient.

 

Test findings:

  • Pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC): 82% predicted, Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1): 80% predicted. FEV1/FVC ratio > 70%.
  • The resting transthoracic echocardiography shows a non-hypertrofied, non-dilated left ventricle (LV) with a normal EF (68%).
  • The right ventricle (RV) is lightly to moderately dilated (Basal RV D: 4.1 cm, Mid RV D: 4.0 cm, Base-to-apex RV D: 8.8 cm, RV/LV basal D: 1.0), with a normal RV systolic function (RV FAC: 52%, RV S’ 10 cm/sec, TAPSE 24 mm) and no resting pulmonary hypertension (PAPm rest: 14 mmHg).
  • There is a 40% left-to-right shunt fraction (Qp/Qs: 1.4).

We subsequently performed a combined exercise echocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise test in order to investigate the cause of the patient’s main complaint. The main results of the cardiopulmonary exercise test are summarised in Table 1, those of the exercise echocardiographic examination in Table 2. 

  • This test was terminated due to leg fatigue.
  • There was no evidence of arrhythmia and/or ECG changes suggestive of ischemia during the test.
  • The systolic blood pressure increased normally.
  • The Oxygen Pulse (πO2) showed an initial increase in a hyperbolical fashion, followed by a slow approach to an asymptotic value (i.e. no πO2 flattening and/or decline) during exercise.
Table 1. Cardiopulmonary exercise test results 
ParameterRER max
Measured Value 1.03
ParameterHR peak (% pred)
Measured Value 72
ParameterVE peak/MVV
Measured Value < 80%
ParameterVO2 peak (% pred)
Measured Value 51
ParameterVT1 (% VO2 max pred)
Measured Value > 40
ParameterOUES (ml/min/log[ml/min])
Measured Value 1537
ParameterOUES (% pred)
Measured Value 65
ParameterVE/VCO2 slope
Measured Value 30
ParameterVE/VCO2 slope at VT1
Measured Value 31
Parameter∆ VO2/∆W
Measured Value 10, no slope flattening
Parameter∆SaO2
Measured Value < 4%
Parameter Measured Value
RER max  1.03
HR peak (% pred)  72
VE peak/MVV  < 80%
VO2 peak (% pred)  51
VT1 (% VO2 max pred)  > 40
OUES (ml/min/log[ml/min])  1537
OUES (% pred)  65
VE/VCO2 slope  30
VE/VCO2 slope at VT1  31
∆ VO2/∆W  10, no slope flattening
∆SaO2  < 4%

RER: Respiratory Exchange Ratio; HR: Heart Rate; VE: Minute Ventilation; MVV: Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; VO2: Oxygen consumption; VT1: First Ventilatory Threshold; OUES: Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope; W: Load. 

Figure 2: 9 Panel Plot of the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test
Figure 2: 9 Panel Plot of the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test

 

Table 2. Exercise echocardiography test results
Parameter Load (W)
Resting value 0
Low intensity 25
High intensity 83
Parameter PAPs (mmHg)
Resting value 20
Low intensity 30
High intensity 40
Parameter PAPm (mmHg)
Resting value 14
Low intensity 20
High intensity 26
Parameter RV FAC (%)
Resting value 52
Low intensity 56
High intensity 62
Parameter RV S’ (cm/sec)
Resting value 10
Low intensity 12
High intensity 18
Parameter PAPm/CO slope
Resting value 
Low intensity 
High intensity 2.74
Parameter PAPs/W slope
Resting value 
Low intensity 
High intensity 0.23
Parameter RVESPAR ratio
Resting value 
Low intensity 
High intensity 2.75
Parameter LV EF (%)
Resting value 68
Low intensity 72
High intensity 74
Parameter E/E’
Resting value 7.5
Low intensity 7.0
High intensity 8.1
Parameter Resting value Low intensity High intensity
 Load (W)  0  25  83
 PAPs (mmHg)  20  30  40
 PAPm (mmHg)  14  20  26
 RV FAC (%)  52  56  62
 RV S’ (cm/sec)  10  12  18
 PAPm/CO slope      2.74
 PAPs/W slope      0.23
 RVESPAR ratio      2.75
 LV EF (%)  68  72  74
 E/E’  7.5  7.0  8.1

W: Watt; PAPs: systolic pulmonary artery pressure; mPAP: mean pulmonary artery pressure; RV: right ventricle; FAC: fractional area change; CO: cardiac output; RVESPAR: right ventricular end-systolic pressure area relation; EF: ejection fraction; LV: left ventricle.

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Note: The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the author and may not be accepted by others. While every attempt is made to keep the information up to date, there is always going to be a lag in updating information. The reader is encouraged to read this in conjunction with appropriate ESC Guidelines. The material on this page is for educational purposes and is not for use as a definitive management strategy in the care of patients. Quiz material in the site are only examples and do not guarantee outcomes from formal examinations.

References

Suggested reading

  • Obokata M, Kane GC, Reddy YN, Olson TP, Melenovsky V, Borlaug BA. Role of Diastolic Stress Testing in the Evaluation for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Simultaneous Invasive-Echocardiographic Study. Circulation 2017;135(9):825-838.
  • Bandera F, Generati G, Pellegrino M, Donghi V, Alfonzetti E, Gaeta M, Villani S, Guazzi M. Role of right ventricle and dynamic pulmonary hypertension on determining ΔVO2/ΔWork Rate flattening: insights from cardiopulmonary exercise test combined with exercise echocardiography. Circ Heart Fail 2014;7(5):782-90.