Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Published on: January 27, 2023
Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricle postnatal growth in newborns and infants
1Department for Children and Adolescents, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University and University Hospital, Martin, Slovakia. jurko@enelux.sk
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.
Aim Of Study:
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.
Conclusion:
Left ventricular parameters confirm postnatal left ventricle growth in healthy infants. The results are useful in interpretation of echocardiographic examinations in newborns and infants.
