Two dimensional Doppler echocardiographic/M mode echocardiographic and phonocardiographic method for study of extracardiac heterograft valved conduits in the right ventricular outflow tract position.
Significant concern exists over the long-term results of right ventricular outflow tract repair using heterograft valved conduits. Because these conduits and valves are difficult to image using ultrasound, a serially applicable two dimensional Doppler echocardiographic, M mode echocardiographic and phonocardiographic method for noninvasive investigation was developed and applied in 15 children. The method provides two dimensional echocardiographic imaging of valve contour and motion, as well as M mode and phonocardiographic analysis and quantitative range-gated Doppler information about the timing of flow through the conduit. Conduit diameter in two dimensional echocardiographic images correlated well with known conduit size (r = +0.96). A thickened and stenosed heterograft valve was predicted in two patients before hemodynamic investigation. This new method provides serially obtainable information to aid in the management of children and infants with a valved conduit placed for repair of congenital heart malformations and aids in planning the timing of hemodynamic follow-up studies.
D000293:Adolescent; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004301:Doppler Effect; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D010701:Phonocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery