Echocardiographic assessment of subvalvular aortic stenosis before and after operation.

The development of two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography has provided a noninvasive technique for the diagnosis and serial assessment of patients with subvalvular aortic stenosis. The clinical records and echocardiographic data were reviewed of all patients with subaortic stenosis diagnosed between 1983 and 1991. Of the 77 patients identified (45 male and 32 female), 28 had isolated subaortic stenosis and 49 had associated cardiac lesions. The most frequently encountered associated lesions were ventricular septal defect (n = 19) and coarctation of the aorta/interrupted aortic arch (n = 14). Serial echocardiographic studies, performed in 38 of the 77 patients, documented significant progression of the left ventricular outflow tract gradient in 25 patients (66%) and development of aortic regurgitation in 25 patients (66%). Surgical resection was performed in 36 patients. The preoperative outflow tract peak gradient was 62.9 +/- 31 mm Hg (range 0 to 153), whereas the immediate postoperative gradient was 14.4 +/- 14 mm Hg (range 0 to 67). The two patients with a significant residual gradient (37 and 67 mm Hg, respectively) in the immediate postoperative period had severe subaortic stenosis preoperatively with marked left ventricular hypertrophy and intracavitary gradient. The immediate postoperative echocardiograms demonstrated no worsening of aortic regurgitation in any patient and regression of regurgitation in one patient from mild to none. Intermediate-term follow-up studies were available for review in 13 postoperative patients at a mean of 4 years postoperatively. In 2(15%) of these 13 patients, subaortic stenosis recurred; however, the degree of aortic regurgitation did not increase in any patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of right and left ventricular diastolic function in normal neonates.

Doppler echocardiograms of the tricuspid and mitral valves were recorded along with the electrocardiogram and respiration in 22 normal full-term neonates. A computer-interfaced digitizer pad was utilized to measure the following: peak E and A velocities (cm/s); E and A areas (the components of the total velocity-time integral in the early passive period of ventricular filling [E] and the late active period of atrial emptying [A], respectively) and the 1/3 area fraction (or the proportion of filling in the first 1/3 of diastole). All of the variables of right (tricuspid) versus left (mitral) ventricular filling were significantly different on the 1st day of life. Respective values were peak E velocity (cm/s) 44.6 +/- 10.0 (tricuspid) versus 53.2 +/- 9.3 (mitral), p less than 0.01; peak E/A ratio 0.84 +/- 0.14 versus 1.15 +/- 0.17, p less than 0.0001; E/total area 0.58 +/- 0.07 versus 0.63 +/- 0.05, p less than 0.005; E/A area ratio 1.05 +/- 0.23 versus 1.63 +/- 0.40, p less than 0.0001; 1/3 area fraction 0.31 +/- 0.04 versus 0.41 +/- 0.04, p less than 0.0001; peak A velocity (cm/s) 53.0 +/- 8.4 versus 47.6 +/- 5.8, p less than 0.05 and A/total area 0.57 +/- 0.09 versus 0.41 +/- 0.09, p less than 0.001; the mean heart rate (beats/min) was not significantly different: 121 +/- 8 versus 120 +/- 7. Most of the variables remained significantly different on the 2nd day of life, but the level of significance was the same or less for all measurements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Doppler evaluation of aortic valve area in children with aortic stenosis.

To evaluate the usefulness of the Doppler-derived aortic valve area calculated from the continuity equation in assessing the hemodynamic severity of aortic valve stenosis in infants and children, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examinations were performed on 42 patients (aged 1 day to 24 years) a median of 1 day before or after cardiac catheterization. The left ventricular outflow tract diameter was measured from the parasternal long-axis view at the base of the aortic cusps from inner edge to inner edge in early systole. The flow velocities proximal to the aortic valve were measured from the apical view with use of pulsed Doppler echocardiography; the jet velocities were recorded from the apical, right parasternal and suprasternal views by using continuous wave Doppler echocardiography. The velocity-time integral, mean velocity and peak velocity were measured by tracing the Doppler waveforms along their outermost margins. Seventeen patients (all less than or equal to 6 years old) had a very small left ventricular outflow tract diameter (less than or equal to 1.4 cm) and cross-sectional area (less than or equal to 1.5 cm2). The Doppler aortic valve area calculated with use of velocity-time integrals in the continuity equation (0.57 +/- 0.25 cm2/m2, mean value +/- SD) correlated well with the Doppler aortic valve area calculated by using mean (0.55 +/- 0.25 cm2/m2) and peak (0.54 +/- 0.24 cm2/m2) velocities, with correlations of r = 0.97 and 0.95, respectively. Thirty-four patients had sufficient catheterization data to calculate aortic valve area from the Gorlin formula.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm complicating bacterial endocarditis in an infant: diagnosis with two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare complication of bacterial endocarditis in infancy and childhood. This report describes an infant with congenital aortic stenosis who developed bacterial endocarditis after abdominal surgery and placement of indwelling central venous catheters for long-term parenteral nutrition. Bacterial endocarditis in this infant was complicated by the development of an aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva. Surgical intervention was necessary because of gradual expansion of the aneurysm with compression of the adjacent right pulmonary artery and descending aorta. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography proved useful for the initial diagnosis and serial follow-up of this unusual disorder and for its successful surgical management.

Left ventricular diastolic filling in children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: assessment with pulsed Doppler echocardiography.

Altered left ventricular filling patterns in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have been demonstrated by M-mode echocardiographic and radionuclide techniques. Because pulsed Doppler ultrasound provides the capability to directly measure blood flow velocity across the mitral valve, it was hypothesized that this technique would be useful for demonstrating left ventricular filling abnormalities. Simultaneous Doppler ultrasound examination of the left ventricular inflow, M-mode echocardiograms and phonocardiograms were performed in 17 children and young adults: 10 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (aged 6 to 20 years) and 7 with a normal heart (aged 10 to 18 years). From the Doppler studies, measurements of various diastolic time intervals, peak flow velocity during rapid filling (E velocity) and peak flow velocity during atrial contraction (A velocity) were made. Several areas within the Doppler flow envelope were calculated: first 33% of diastole (0.33 area), first 50% of diastole, triangle under the E velocity (E area) and triangle under the A velocity (A area). These were expressed as a percent of area under the total flow envelope. From the M-mode studies, left ventricular endocardial echoes were digitized and peak rates of increase in left ventricular dimension were determined and normalized for end-diastolic dimension. Diastolic time intervals, including isovolumic relaxation time, were calculated using the phonocardiogram to determine end-systole. The E velocity was lower (0.71 +/- 0.23 versus 0.91 +/- 0.11 m/s, p less than 0.05), 0.33 area/total area was less (0.46 +/- 0.11 versus 0.58 +/- 0.08, p less than 0.05) and the isovolumic relaxation time was prolonged (56 +/- 2 versus 31 +/- 1 ms, p less than 0.05) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Echocardiographic evaluation of atrioventricular orifice anatomy in children with atrioventricular septal defect.

In atrioventricular (AV) septal defect, the common AV valve can have a common orifice or can be divided by bridging leaflet tissue into two separate orifices. To determine the accuracy of a two-dimensional echocardiographic technique devised specifically for evaluation of the number of AV valve orifices, all 69 children undergoing surgical repair of AV septal defect from April 1987 to August 1990 were examined prospectively. The presence of bridging leaflet tissue and the number of AV valve orifices were determined with use of a subcostal imaging plane. From a standard subcostal four-chamber view, the plane of sound was rotated 30 degrees to 45 degrees clockwise until the AV valve was seen en face. The plane of sound was then tilted from a superior to an inferior direction so that cross-sectional views of the AV valve were examined from the inferior margin of the atrial septum to the superior margin of the ventricular septum. Of the 69 patients, 6 (9%) were excluded because the appropriate subcostal images were not obtained (in 3 because of obesity and in 3 as a result of operator failure). The remaining 63 children, ranging in age from 1 day to 13.5 years and in weight from 1 to 55 kg, constituted the study group. Echocardiographic results were compared with surgical observations in 62 patients and with autopsy findings in 1 patient. With the two-dimensional echocardiographic technique, 32 of 33 patients with a common orifice and 28 of 30 patients with two separate AV valve orifices were correctly identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Long-term outcome after repair of coarctation in infancy: subclavian angioplasty does not reduce the need for reoperation.

To assess the influence of surgical technique on the need for reoperation after coarctation repair in infancy, follow-up data were analyzed for 125 consecutive infants (less than 12 months) who underwent repair of coarctation of the aorta by subclavian angioplasty or resection and end to end anastomosis. Sixty-three infants underwent coarctation repair by resection between 1960 and 1980, and 62 underwent subclavian angioplasty between 1977 and 1985. The mean age (+/- SEM) at operation for infants with subclavian flap angioplasty was 1.54 +/- 0.93 months and for infants with resection was 2.70 +/- 0.93 months (p = 0.02). There was no difference between the groups in patient weight at initial repair or the proportion of patients with complex anatomy or aortic arch hypoplasia. Follow-up duration for the subclavian flap group was 2.55 +/- 0.51 years (range 0.3 to 8.2), and for the resection group was 7.97 +/- 3.61 years (range 0.6 to 21). Indication for reoperation was the presence of a coarctation gradient at rest of 40 mm Hg or greater and arm hypertension. Reoperation was required in 5 patients in the subclavian flap group and 12 patients in the resection group. The mean reoperation rate after subclavian flap repair was 0.0356 reoperations per patient-year, and after resection was 0.0342 reoperations per patient-year (p = 0.94). To determine an individual's risk of requiring reoperation from these group measures, a reoperation risk model was developed. The risk of reoperation by the fifth postoperative year was found to be 16.3% after subclavian flap repair and 15.7% after resection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quinidine syncope in children.

Quinidine syncope and factors associated with it are well known among adult patients treated for cardiac arrhythmias. To define factors that may influence the occurrence of syncope in children taking quinidine, the clinical, anatomic, electrocardiographic, roentgenographic and pharmacologic data were compared in six patients with syncope (Group A) and 22 patients without syncope (Group B). There was a significant (chi-square = 10.2, p = 0.001) relation between heart disease and quinidine syncope: all six Group A (syncopal) patients had heart disease whereas 15 of the 22 Group B (non-syncopal) patients had no structural heart disease. In contrast, no significant difference was noted between Group A and Group B patients in mean age (11.4 versus 11.4 years), mean quinidine serum concentration (2.9 versus 2.3 micrograms/ml), mean corrected QT interval before quinidine (0.43 versus 0.40 second) or mean corrected QT interval during quinidine therapy (0.46 versus 0.46 second) or between those taking digitalis and those not. Two of the six Group A (syncopal) patients died during therapy, one 6 days after initiating therapy and one suddenly at home 6 months after beginning quinidine. Another two of the six Group A patients exhibited hypokalemia (both 2.9 mEq/liter) at the time of syncope, 2 weeks and 6 months, respectively, after initiation of quinidine therapy; both survived. Syncope occurred within 8 days of initiation of quinidine therapy in three of the six patients. Sustained ventricular tachycardia was observed during quinidine associated arrhythmia in three of six patients with syncope; nonsustained ventricular tachycardia or complex ventricular ectopic activity while on this therapy was observed before syncope in the other three patients in Group A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of the aorta.

Twenty-six children, aged 5 weeks to 14.7 years, underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty for a discrete native coarctation of the aorta. The procedure reduced the systolic coarctation gradient acutely in all children. The mean systolic gradient decreased by 75%, from 48.6 +/- 2.4 before to 12.3 +/- 1.9 mm Hg after angioplasty (p less than 0.001). Long-term results were evaluated in 14 children by follow-up catheterization 12 to 26 months (mean 15.3) after angioplasty. At follow-up, the residual gradient averaged 11.7 +/- 3.7 mm Hg (range -5 to 36) and had not changed from that measured immediately after angioplasty (p = 0.64). Compared with preangioplasty values, the systolic pressure in the ascending aorta had improved substantially at follow-up (116.0 +/- 3.2 versus 143.9 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, p less than 0.001). On the basis of follow-up data, two groups of children were identified: Group 1 consisted of nine children with a good result, defined as a residual gradient less than 20 mm Hg and no aneurysm; Group 2 consisted of five children with a poor result, four with a residual gradient greater than 20 mm Hg (range 25 to 36) and one with an aneurysm at the dilation site. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in age at angioplasty, balloon size, ratio of balloon to isthmus diameters, follow-up duration, heart rate or cardiac output. However, of the four children with a residual gradient greater than 20 mm Hg, two were the youngest in the study, and in two the aorta was inadvertently dilated with a balloon 4 to 5 mm smaller than the isthmus diameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of high pulse repetition frequency and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography for velocity measurement and gradient prediction in children with valvular and congenital heart disease.

To compare the ability of high pulse repetition frequency and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography to detect the peak velocity of a jet flow disturbance and to predict pressure gradients accurately, two groups of children with valvular or congenital heart disease were examined using both Doppler techniques. The use study group included 84 children or adolescents (aged 1 day to 19 years) who underwent examination in the echocardiography laboratory with both Doppler techniques in a randomized sequence. The peak velocity recorded with high pulse repetition frequency Doppler echocardiography was compared with the peak velocity recorded with the continuous wave technique. The accuracy study group included 41 children or adolescents (aged 1 day to 16 years) who underwent examination with both Doppler techniques at the time of cardiac catheterization. Doppler pressure gradients were calculated from the peak velocity using the simplified Bernoulli equation and were compared with peak instantaneous gradients and peak to peak gradients measured at catheterization. In the use study, a high correlation was found between peak velocities detected by high pulse repetition frequency and continuous wave Doppler echocardiography (r = 0.94, SEE = 0.28 m/s). In the accuracy study, close correlations were found between measured peak to peak pressure gradients and pressure gradients calculated from continuous wave (r = 0.95, SEE = 7.9 mm Hg) and high pulse repetition frequency Doppler echocardiography (r = 0.94, SEE = 8.7 mm Hg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of single and double balloon valvuloplasty in children with aortic stenosis.

To compare the effectiveness of the single and double balloon techniques, the short-term results of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty were assessed in two consecutive groups of children with valvular aortic stenosis. In 16 children (aged 3 months to 17 years) the single balloon technique was utilized; the ratio of balloon diameter to valve anulus diameter was 0.96 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SEM). In 11 children (aged 3 months to 21 years) the double balloon technique was utilized in which two balloons are positioned across the valve and inflated simultaneously; the ratio of the balloon diameter sum to valve anulus diameter was 1.32 +/- 0.05. The groups were similar in age, weight, cardiac output, prevalvuloplasty gradient and valve anulus diameter. Overall, valvuloplasty reduced the peak systolic gradient by 53% from 80 +/- 4 to 38 +/- 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001). In the single balloon group the gradient decreased from 82 +/- 6 to 46 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001), whereas in the double balloon group the gradient decreased from 76 +/- 5 to 26 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.0001). The peak systolic gradient after valvuloplasty was 43% lower in the double balloon group (p less than 0.01). Furthermore, the single balloon technique reduced the gradient by an average of 43% compared with a 67% reduction with the double balloon technique (p less than 0.001). The short-term complications of valvuloplasty were similar, with an increase in aortic insufficiency occurring in three children in each group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aortic aneurysm after patch aortoplasty repair of coarctation: a prospective analysis of prevalence, screening tests and risks.

Twenty-nine children were evaluated prospectively for the presence of an aortic aneurysm at the repair site 1 to 19 years after patch aortoplasty repair of coarctation of the aorta. In each child, noninvasive evaluation included a chest X-ray film, computed tomography of the chest and two-dimensional echocardiography. The presence and size of an aortic aneurysm were determined quantitatively by measuring the ratio of the diameter of the thoracic aorta at the repair site to the diameter of the aorta at the diaphragm (aortic ratio). An aortic ratio of greater than or equal to 1.5 was judged abnormal and was shown to be significantly greater than the aortic ratio of a normal control group. An aortogram was obtained in each child if any noninvasive screening test was found to be abnormal. As assessed by the aortogram, the prevalence of aortic aneurysm was 24% in this patient group. The sensitivity of echocardiography and chest computed tomography for detecting an aneurysm was 71% and 66%, and the specificity 76% and 85%, respectively. The chest X-ray film was 100% sensitive and 68% specific in determining the presence of an aneurysm. Although the data are not statistically significant, they suggest that children undergoing patch aortoplasty as the primary procedure (rather than a reoperation after earlier resection), and children in whom a Dacron patch is utilized may be at increased risk for aneurysm formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Atrial overdrive pacing for conversion of atrial flutter in children.

Twenty-three successive patients with 27 different episodes of sustained atrial flutter were treated with atrial pacing for conversion of the tachyarrhythmia; 15 patients with 16 episodes of atrial flutter underwent intracardiac right atrial pacing and eight patients with 11 episodes of atrial flutter were treated with transesophageal atrial pacing. Ten of sixteen episodes (63%) and eight of 11 episodes (73%) were successfully converted using intracardiac and transesophageal techniques, respectively. Mean flutter cycle length for all 27 episodes was 219 ms (mean heart rate 274 beats per minute); successful pacing conversion cycle length (n = 15) was 72% of the flutter cycle length. Hemodynamic, electrophysiologic, and roentgenographic data were not predictive of conversion by either technique. Induction of localized atrial fibrillation or failure to meet critical pacing criteria may explain pacing failures. Based on this experience, a trial of transesophageal atrial pacing for acute conversion of any episode of atrial flutter in children prior to direct current cardioversion is recommended.

Respiratory influence on right and left ventricular diastolic function in normal children.

Doppler echocardiograms of the tricuspid and mitral valves were recorded with electrocardiogram and respirations in 20 normal children aged 1.5 to 11 years. Four variables of early diastolic left ventricular (LV) filling decreased with inspiration: the peak E velocity (mean decrease 8%, p less than 0.0001), the ratio of E/A areas (mean decrease 12%, p less than 0.001), the peak E/A velocity ratio (mean decrease 14%, p less than 0.005) and the 1/3 area fraction (mean decrease 12%, p less than 0.001). Variables of late active atrial emptying (peak A velocity and A/total area ratio) were unchanged with respiration. There was a significant increase in the right ventricular (RV) peak E (mean increase 26%, p less than 0.0001) and peak A velocities (mean increase 18%, p less than 0.0001) and mean heart rate (5% increase) with inspiration. The enhancement of RV filling was similar for early and late diastolic filling, since each of the variables generated from their ratios were not significantly changed with inspiration. Inspiration significantly enhances RV venous return, while the LV response to inspiration is a complex interplay among preload, afterload and ventricular interdependence. Assessment of pediatric RV and LV diastolic function should include standardization for phase of respiration.

Pulsed Doppler evaluation of right ventricular diastolic filling in children with pulmonary valve stenosis before and after balloon valvuloplasty.

To assess right ventricular (RV) diastolic filling in children with pulmonary stenosis (PS), 14 patients (mean age 5.1 years) were examined immediately before and after pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty. Fourteen normal children (mean age 4.8 years) were also studied. From the tricuspid valve inflow Doppler study, the following measurements were made at peak inspiration: peak velocities at rapid filling (peak E) and during atrial contraction (peak A), ratio of peak E to peak A velocities, RV peak filling rate normalized for stroke volume, total area under the Doppler curve, percent of the total Doppler area occurring in the first third of diastole (0.33 area fraction), percent of the total area occurring under the E wave (E area fraction), percent of the total area occurring under the A wave (A area fraction) and the ratio of E area to A area. Before balloon valvuloplasty, the patients with PS had higher peak A velocity (0.64 +/- 0.28 vs 0.39 +/- 0.08 m/s), lower E/A velocity ratio (1.11 +/- 0.52 vs 1.76 +/- 0.45), lower 0.33 area fraction (0.34 +/- 0.14 vs 0.49 +/- 0.08), higher A area fraction (0.45 +/- 0.21 vs 0.27 +/- 0.09) and lower E/A area ratio (1.73 +/- 1.05 vs 2.96 +/- 1.14) than the normal subjects (p less than 0.01). In patients before and after balloon valvuloplasty, there was a significant difference in RV outflow gradient (71 +/- 35 vs 28 +/- 15 mm Hg), but there was no change in any Doppler index. Thus, patients with PS have abnormal diastolic filling with decreased filling in early diastole and increased filling during atrial contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Usefulness of the Doppler mean gradient in evaluation of children with aortic valve stenosis and comparison to gradient at catheterization.

To assess the usefulness of the Doppler mean gradient as a noninvasive indicator of the need for intervention, 33 children (ages 3 months to 20 years) with valvular aortic stenosis (AS) underwent a 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examination a median of 1 day before cardiac catheterization. The clinical decision for intervention was based on finding a catheterization peak-to-peak pressure gradient of greater than 75 mm Hg or from 50 to 75 mm Hg in the presence of symptoms or an abnormal exercise treadmill test result. Of the 33 patients, 23 required intervention. The decision for intervention was compared to the Doppler mean gradient, and the Doppler peak and mean gradients were compared to the catheterization peak-to-peak gradient. All 12 patients with a Doppler mean gradient greater than 27 mm Hg had intervention and had a catheterization peak-to-peak gradient of greater than or equal to 75 mm Hg. All 3 patients with a Doppler mean gradient less than 17 mm Hg had no intervention and had a peak-to-peak gradient less than 50 mm Hg. The remaining 18 patients with Doppler mean gradients between 17 and 27 mm Hg comprised an intermediate group in whom the Doppler mean gradient alone did not predict the need for intervention. From a chi-square table, a Doppler mean gradient greater than 27 mm Hg predicted the need for intervention with 100% specificity (no false positives) and 52% sensitivity (11 false negatives).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Doppler assessment of pulmonary artery flow patterns and ventricular function after the Fontan operation.

To assess the relation between ventricular systolic and diastolic function and pulmonary artery (PA) flow patterns after the Fontan operation, 15 postoperative patients were prospectively evaluated with echocardiography. Blood flow velocities in the PA were recorded with pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Ejection fraction was measured by 2-dimensional echocardiography using Simpson's rule. Indexes of diastolic function were measured from the systemic atrioventricular valve inflow Doppler and included peak E and A velocities, peak filling rate normalized for stroke volume, the fractions of filling in early and late diastole (E and A area fractions), and the E/A velocity and area ratios. Compared with 15 age-matched control subjects, the 15 patients who had undergone the Fontan procedure had decreased peak E velocity (0.65 +/- 0.20 vs 0.87 +/- 0.10 m/s), decreased E/A velocity ratio (1.29 +/- 0.23 vs 1.98 +/- 0.46), decreased normalized peak filling rate (6.09 +/- 0.90 vs 6.81 +/- 0.83 s-1), decreased E area fraction (0.63 +/- 0.09 vs 0.72 +/- 0.07), increased A area fraction (0.37 +/- 0.07 vs 0.24 +/- 0.06), and decreased E/A area ratio (1.77 +/- 0.45 vs 3.33 +/- 1.15) (p less than 0.05). These diastolic filling abnormalities are consistent with impaired ventricular relaxation and decreased early diastolic transvalvular pressure gradient. PA Doppler recordings showed 2 distinct patterns of flow. Pattern I, observed in 9 patients, showed biphasic forward flow with peak velocities in mid to late systole and mid-diastole. Pattern II, observed in the remaining 6 patients, showed decreased systolic forward flow, a late systolic to early diastolic flow reversal, and delayed onset of diastolic forward flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Left ventricular ejection fraction measured with Doppler color flow mapping techniques.

To determine if left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) can be accurately measured from the color Doppler examination, 11 patients (aged 0.4 to 22 years) underwent 2-dimensional and color Doppler examinations within 24 hours of cardiac catheterization. With use of a biplane Simpson's rule, LV end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and EF were measured from cineangiograms, 2-dimensional echocardiograms and color Doppler examinations. The 2-dimensional echocardiographic and color Doppler measurements were obtained from apical 4-chamber and long-axis views. The color Doppler examinations were performed by placing the color sector over the left ventricle only. The velocity scale was set at the lowest possible Nyquist limit (less than 0.17 m/s), and the highest possible carrier frequency was used to obtain this limit. With these settings, all flow signals in the LV chamber were aliased so that the entire chamber was filled with mosaic color Doppler signals. Motion of the surrounding LV walls gave rise to nonaliased (pure red-blue) signals. With use of an off-line analysis system equipped with a color frame grabber, the border of the mosaic color flow area was traced to obtain volumes and EF. End-diastolic and end-systolic volumes measured with color Doppler correlated well with those measured from 2-dimensional echocardiography (r = 0.99, standard error of the estimate [SEE] = 11.9 ml; r = 0.99, SEE = 4.4 ml, respectively) and cineangiography (r = 0.92, SEE = 16.8 ml; r = 0.90, SEE = 9.9 ml, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Long-term assessment of right ventricular diastolic filling in patients with pulmonic valve stenosis successfully treated in childhood.

Patients with severe pulmonic stenosis (PS) have right ventricular (RV) diastolic filling abnormalities detectable by tricuspid valve pulsed Doppler examination. To determine if these abnormalities persist long term after successful therapy of PS, 19 patients were examined 8 +/- 3 years after PS therapy. At the time of follow-up Doppler examination, the PS gradient was 15 +/- 8 mm Hg. From the tricuspid valve inflow Doppler study, the following measurements were obtained at peak inspiration: peak velocities at rapid filling (peak E) and during atrial contraction (peak A), ratio of peak E to peak A velocities, RV peak filling rate normalized for stroke volume, deceleration time, the fraction of filling in the first 0.33 of diastole as well as under the E and A waves, and the ratio of E to A area. Data from PS follow-up patients were compared with our previously reported data from 12 age-related control subjects and 14 untreated patients with PS. Patients with PS who were followed up had higher peak E velocity (0.75 +/- 0.14 vs 0.59 +/- 0.21 m/s), lower peak A velocity (0.47 +/- 0.09 vs 0.64 +/- 0.28 m/s), higher E/A velocity ratio (1.65 +/- 0.33 vs 1.11 +/- 0.52), higher 0.33 area fraction (0.52 +/- 0.08 vs 0.34 +/- 0.14), lower A area fraction (0.29 +/- 0.06 vs 0.45 +/- 0.21) and higher E/A area ratio (2.48 +/- 0.82 vs 1.73 +/- 1.05) than PS patients without treatment (p less than 0.03). All Doppler indexes of the patients with PS who were followed up were the same as those of the control subjects except for the peak E velocity that was slightly higher (0.75 +/- 0.14 vs 0.63 +/- 0.11 m/s), the peak A velocity that was slightly higher (0.47 +/- 0.09 vs 0.38 +/- 0.09 m/s) and the E/A area ratio that was slightly lower (2.48 +/- 0.82 vs 3.50 +/- 1.25) (p less than 0.03). Thus, at long-term follow-up, all RV diastolic filling indexes in successfully treated patients with PS improved compared with the untreated patients and approached values found in normal subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Results of balloon valvuloplasty in the treatment of congenital valvar pulmonary stenosis in children.

Transluminal balloon valvuloplasty was used in the treatment of congenital valvar pulmonary stenosis in 19 children, aged 5 months to 18 years. The right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure and RV outflow tract gradient decreased significantly immediately after the procedure (95 +/- 29 vs 59 +/- 14 mm Hg, p less than 0.01, and 78 +/- 27 vs 38 +/- 13 mm Hg, p less than 0.01). Seven of these patients were evaluated at cardiac catheterization 1 year after balloon valvuloplasty. No significant change occurred in RV systolic pressure or RV outflow tract gradient at follow-up evaluation compared with measurements immediately after balloon valvuloplasty (60 +/- 5 mm Hg vs 56 +/- 12 mm Hg and 39 +/- 5 vs 38 +/- 10 mm Hg). In addition, follow-up evaluation was performed using noninvasive methods and included electrocardiography (n = 13), vectorcardiography (n = 11) and Doppler echocardiography (n = 11) Doppler echocardiography in 11 patients 15 +/- 9 months after balloon valvuloplasty showed a continued beneficial effect with a mild further decrease in RV outflow tract gradient. Thus, balloon valvuloplasty is effective in the relief of pulmonary stenosis.