Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricle postnatal growth in newborns and infants.
BACKGROUND
During intrauterine life is the volume stimulation of the left ventricle low and it's cardiac output in comparison to the right ventricle is about 50%. Before and also after birth the right ventricle is dominant. Postnatally low-resistance placenta is excluded from the systemic circuit, leading to an abrupt pressure elevation and to its further increase.


OBJECTIVE
The authors performed echocardiographic evaluation of healthy children from newborn age to 6 month of age.


METHODS
Fifty randomly selected healthy mature infants were included in this study. Echocardiographic examination was performed at the age of 5 days, 1 month and 6 months respectively. Data obtained at the age of 5 days were compared to those at 1 month and 6 months.


RESULTS
The authors confirmed a significant increase in the left ventricular volumes (LVESV, LVEDV, SV) developed early newborn in the period to 6 months of age. There was a significant increase in EF in the period age of 5 days to 1 month of age. Mean LVM on the 5th day after birth was 8.13+/-1.50 g. It increased to 11.39+/-2.33 g after 1 month and to 16.61+/-2.75 g after 6 months. They confirmed significant LVMVI decrease to 1.38+/-0.25 g/ml (6 months) from 1.56+/-0.33 (1 month). The authors found significant decrease in RWT values at the age of 6 months compared with the 5th day.


CONCLUSIONS
Left ventricular parameters confirm postnatal left ventricle growth in healthy infants. The results are useful in interpretation of echocardiographic examinations in newborns and infants.
Jurko
A
A
Department for Children and Adolescents, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Martin, Slovakia. jurko@enelux.sk
D002302:Cardiac Output; D004452:Echocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left