Influence of the body position on the systolic speckle-tracking derived left and right ventricular function indexes of ultra-trailers

Background Preload is prone to vary during ultra long duration exercise (ULDE) and this can complicate the analysis of left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function under such conditions. Purpose We studied LV and RV contractility indexes while preload conditions were changed. Methods Twenty-two healthy male amateur ultra trailers (mean age 47) underwent serial echocardiographic assessments in three positions at rest: left-side decubitus in the standard position (P1), head-up and legs down (P2) then in the Trendelenburg position (P3). Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were monitored. Preload was estimated by the biplane LV end diastolic volume (LV-EDV). Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated measures ANOVA. Results HR and SBP did not vary. LV-EDV was significantly greater in P3 than in P2 ( P  = 0.004) and in P1 ( P  = 0.001). LV Radial Peak Strain (LV-RPS) and LV Circumferential Peak Strain (LV-CPS) did not change. LV Longitudinal Peak Strain (LV-LPS) was greater in P3 than in P2 ( P P P Table 1 ). Conclusions LV-LSR, LV-CSR and RV-LSR as well as LV-RPS and LV-CPS were not influenced by the body position. These latter ventricular indexes seem to be less preload dependent than LV-LPS and RV-LPS and may be favored when assessing LV and RV function during ULDE.