Abstract
Angiographic studies suggest that infants with coarct have enlarged right ventricles (RV) and small, poorly functioning left ventricles (LV). We have performed 83 M-mode echos on 13 medically managed Infants with documented coarct (age 1 day-3½ yrs, BSA 0.16-0.78 m2). Associated lesions included VSD (2), ASD (2) and aortic stenosis (6). Group A included 1 echo from infants 1 day-6 wks (N-9); group B, 6 wks-4 mos (N=9); group C, 4 mos-1 yr (N=7); and group D 1-4 yrs (N=4). LV diastolic dimension (LVD), 1.6 ±.12 (SE) cm, in A was significantly decreased, (p<0.05) 64±5% (SE) of nl for BSA, Z=-2.5 (SD's). LVD increased in B to 82±4%, Z=-1.3, in C to 94±8% and was 97±7% of nl in D. RVD, 1.3±.15 cm, was increased (p<0.05) in A to 159±19% of nl, Z=1.8. RVD for B was 141±8%, Z=1.3, and decreased to 131±10%, Z=.9 for D. RV wall in A was thickened, (p<0.001) 0.4±.04 cm, 247±17%, Z=4.4, and remained so, D=201±19%, Z=3.4. In A infants, septum was 96±6% of nl, Z=-.21 and LVPW 93±18%, Z=-.46. These thickened to 123±8%, Z=1.37, and 117±8%, Z=l.l, respectively, in D. Mean Vcf, corrected for heart rate, was depressed in A, 81±6% of nl (p<0.05), despite digoxin, but was normal thereafter. RV PEP/ET ratio was elevated, (p<0.05) 0.36±1.03 and 0.40±.05 in A & B respectively (0.24±.005 = nl), suggesting increased pulmonary vascular resistance. This study documents LV growth and hypertrophy, improvement in LV function and regression of RV enlargement and hypertrophy in unoperated infants with coarct.
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Findlay, W., Wing, J., Sahn, D. et al. SERIAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC (ECHO) PROFILES IN INFANTS with COARCTATION OF THE AORTA (COARCT). Pediatr Res 11, 390 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00123
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00123