title: Cross-sectional echocardiographic measurement of right atrial and right ventricular size in children with atrial septal defect before and after surgery.
abstract: A total of 25 children operated on for atrial septal defect were studied by cross-sectional echocardiography before and after operation. Right atrial and right ventricular dimensions and areas were measured preoperatively and 1-4 years (median, 32 months) postoperatively. The length, width, and area of the right atrium (RA) and the right ventricle (RV) were measured in the apical and the subcostal four-chamber views. The dimension of the RV outflow tract (RVOT) was measured in the parasternal short-axis view. Preoperatively, all group mean values except the subcostal four-chamber length of the RV were significantly larger than normal. After surgery, there was a significant decrease in all of the parameters studied, except for RV length. The mean postoperative values of RA measurements in the apical four-chamber view and of RVOT were still significantly larger than normal. The RV four-chamber measurements except the apical four-chamber length were not significantly enlarged. The greatest decrease in RA and RV size occurred in the first postoperative year. Longer follow-up periods did not change the measurements significantly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanséus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Björkhem
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Lundström
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soeroso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002306:Cardiac Volume; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies