Electrocardiographic predictors of right ventricular volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging late after total repair of tetralogy of Fallot.
BACKGROUND
Right ventricular dysfunction occurs in many patients with significant pulmonary valve regurgitation late after initial total repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Methods to predict which of these patients are at increased risk of late morbidity and mortality are not yet known.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated electrocardiographic (ECG) predictors of severe right ventricular dilatation determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumes in patients with tetralogy of Fallot late after initial corrective repair.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the ECGs and MRI right ventricular volume measurements of 20 patients (age 4.4 to 19.3 years, mean 10.0 years) with significant pulmonary valve regurgitation late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. All patients had enlarged, hypokinetic right ventricles by echocardiography. The patients were grouped based on an indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV/BSA) of < 102 ml/m2 (Group 1) or > or = 102 ml/m2 (Group 2). We determined the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of QRS duration, and mean frontal plane QRS axis for predicting right ventricular volumes.


RESULTS
A maximal QRS duration of > or = 150 ms or a northwest quadrant frontal plane QRS axis had 85% sensitivity, 86% specificity, 92% positive predictive value, and 75% negative predictive value for predicting an RVEDV/BSA of > or = 102 ml/m2. The mean QRS duration was significantly longer in Group 2 than in Group 1 patients (156 ms vs. 125 ms, p = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot with significant pulmonary valve regurgitation a maximal manually measured QRS duration of > or = 150 ms and/or a frontal plane QRS northwest quadrant axis can predict patients with marked right ventricular enlargement. The presence of either of these findings on the ECG signifies patients who require further evaluation and consideration for pulmonary valve replacement.
Book
W M
WM
Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
Parks
W J
WJ
Hopkins
K L
KL
Hurst
J W
JW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery