title: Right ventricular volume measurements in ventilated preterm neonates.
abstract: Pulmonary hypertension is associated with worse perinatal outcomes in infants with respiratory disorders. In these infants, right ventricular dysfunction may result in poor pulmonary blood flow. The objective of this study was to follow changes in right ventricular volumes during the first 2 days of life in infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Serial echocardiographic examinations were performed on days 0-2 on infants ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome. Two-dimensional echocardiography with the ellipsoid approximation was used to calculate systolic and diastolic volumes. In 17 ventilated preterm infants, right ventricular volumes were significantly lower on day 2 compared with day 0 and decreased from a median (interquartile range) end systolic volume of 0.80 ml/kg (0.66-0.91 ml/kg) to 0.45 ml/kg (0.39-0.54 ml/kg) ( p < 0.001). End diastolic volume decreased from a median (interquartile range) of 1.54 ml/kg (1.44-1.65 ml/kg) to 1.30 ml/kg (1.22-1.60 ml/kg) ( p = 0.039). Right ventricular ejection fraction increased from a median (interquartile range) of 0.48 ml/kg (0.44-0.56 ml/kg) to 0.62 ml/kg (0.58-0.71 ml/kg) during the same period ( p < 0.001), as did right ventricular output from a median (interquartile range) 120 ml/kg/min (96-125 ml/kg/min) to 140 ml/kg/min (113-168 ml/kg/min) ( p = 0.044). Right ventricular volume decreases during the first 2 days of life in ventilated preterm infants. However, right ventricular performance is maintained.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom. rvecho@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yoxall
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Subhedar
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents