Background: Prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) is an independent predictor of post-operative mortality after aortic valve replacement (AVR), particularly when it is associated with a left ventricle (LV) dysfunction. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) could be useful in assessing LV function in patients with PPM.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of PPM on myocardial multidirectional LV systolic strain in patients who are undergoing AVR for severe degenerative aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: Sixty-five patients (38 females, 27 males, age: 69.9 ± 9.1 years) with severe degenerative AS and preserved LV ejection fraction were enrolled into the study. Pre- and three-month postoperative 2D-STE was performed to assess LV peak systolic longitudinal strain (LV PSLS), circumferential strain, and LV rotation. The indexed prosthesis effective orifice area (iEOAprosth) was used to define PPM (≤ 0.65 cm2/m2), and it was used to distinguish the study groups: PPM (+) (n = 35) and PPM (–) (n = 30).

Results: A significant association of LV PSLS and interaction in the groups [PPM (+) vs. PPM (–)] and intervention (before vs. after AVR; p = 0.019) was observed — the lowest value of LV PSLS was in the PPM (+) group (–14.9 ± 3.5%) after AVR. A significant difference in the mean delta (before/after AVR) values of LV PSLS (0.7 ± 3.1% vs. –1.2 ± 3.6%; p = 0.04) in the PPM (+) vs. the PPM (–) groups was found. LV PSLS correlated with iEOAprosth (r = –0.520, p < 0.001) that was obtained three months after AVR.

Conclusions: The occurrence of PPM in patients undergoing AVR for severe degenerative AS was associated with reduced LV PSLS in a three-month observation.