Echocardiography of hypoplastic ventricles.
BACKGROUND
Evaluation of hypoplastic ventricles with echocardiography requires an appreciation of the ultrasound methods used to assess ventricles of normal size. In this review, we present an overview of the most common techniques used to measure ventricular size, which may be analyzed as long- or short-axis dimension, area, volume, or mass. In addition to methods for evaluation, we review pertinent studies of sonographic evaluation of hypoplastic ventricles in consideration of their suitability for biventricular repair.


RESULTS
Standard methods of volumetric and functional evaluation of the right and left ventricles are described, with a focus on their suitability for and applicability to the patient with a small ventricle. When applied to the patient with a hypoplastic ventricle, assessment may be more complicated in some respects, and requires consideration of functional characteristics of the ventricle itself, as well as the size and function of the corresponding atrioventricular valve.


CONCLUSIONS
Echocardiography allows for excellent evaluation of ventricular size, morphology, and function. This holds true in patients with a hypoplastic ventricle as well, although the task is somewhat more complicated in such patients.
Silverman
N H
NH
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0214, USA. norman_silverman@pedcardgateway.ucsf.edu
McElhinney
D B
DB
D004452:Echocardiography; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans