The accuracy of echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular size in children by the 5/6 area x length (bullet) method.
BACKGROUND
Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) calculation is important in decision making in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). This study examined the accuracy of LVEDV calculation by the formula: 5/6 x area x length ("bullet" method), by comparing echocardiographic (ECHO) LVEDV against cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).


METHODS
ECHO and CMR data from 72 consecutive subjects with CHD < or =10 years of age were retrospectively reviewed. Exclusion criteria included: >3 months between examinations; unavailable or poor-quality images. Subxiphoid short- and long-axis echocardiographic images were analyzed. Bullet LVEDV was compared to CMR volumes.


RESULTS
Seventeen subjects (median age 5.5 years, range 1-10 years) comprised the study group. ECHO and CMR LVEDV showed an excellent correlation (r = 0.97) and a good agreement with a mean difference (limits of agreement) of -1.0 mL (-13.9 to 11.9 mL).


CONCLUSIONS
Subxiphoid echocardiographic bullet method of measuring LVEDV shows a good agreement with CMR obtained LV size in young children.
Nielsen
James C
JC
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA. james.nielsen@mssm.edu
Lytrivi
Irene D
ID
Ko
H Helen
HH
Yau
Jen
J
Bhatla
Puneet
P
Parness
Ira A
IA
Srivastava
Shubhika
S
D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography