Ventricular volume characteristics in infants and children with endocardial cushion defects.

Abstract

Ventricular volume parameters were determined in 14 patients with isolated atrioventricular (AV) canal (Group I), 5 patients with AV canal and pulmonary stenosis (Group II) and 17 patients with ostium primum defect (partial AV canal) (Group III). Right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) volume parameters were determined from biplane cineanigiocardiograms according to Simpson''s rule method and the area length method. Right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) and right ventricular systolic index (RVSI) were significantly greater than normal in Group I (RVEDV = 174 .+-. 15% of predicted normal, RVSI = 6.84 .+-. 0.47 1/min/m2) and Group III (RVEDV = 265 .+-. 37% of normal, RVSI = 13.54 .+-. 1.39 a/min/m2). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular systolic index (LVSI) in Group I (LVEDV = 247 .+-. 20% of normal, LVSI = 10.04 .+-. 0.91 1/min/m2) and Group III (LVEDV = 169 .+-. 15% of normal, LVSI = 7.61 .+-. 0.69 1/min/m2) were both significantly greater than normal. The LV and RV ejection fractions in all groups were not significantly different from normal. LV and RV volumes and outputs are apparently higher than normal in patients with AV canal or ostium primum defects. The number of patients studied is small, and its is possible that some very young infants with AV canal could have small ventricular chambers. Ventricular volume determination should be part of the presurgical evaluation of these patients.