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Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Published on: January 27, 2023
[Pulmonary venous flow in children with dilated cardiomyopathy using transthoracic echocardiography]
Norma Alicia Balderrábano Saucedo1, Lorenzo Reyes de la Cruz, Alfredo Vizcaíno Alarcón
1Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. balderrabano_6@yahoo.es
Insights
Pulmonary venous flow assessment in pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy reveals frequent diastolic dysfunction. This method better identifies abnormal diastolic function and correlates with functional class compared to mitral Doppler flow.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in children often impairs cardiac function.
- Assessing diastolic function is crucial for managing pediatric DCM.
- Pulmonary venous flow (PVF) may offer insights into diastolic abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pulmonary venous flow in children with dilated cardiomyopathy.
- To correlate PVF with mitral Doppler flow.
- To establish the correlation between PVF and the functional class in these patients.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, transversal study was conducted.
- Pulmonary venous flow and mitral Doppler flow were evaluated in 14 children with DCM.
- Correlation analysis was performed with the patients' functional class.
Main Results:
- All 14 patients exhibited altered pulmonary venous flow, with abnormal S/D ratios.
- Mitral Doppler flow indicated abnormal diastolic function in 9 out of 14 patients.
- PVF parameters, including S wave reduction and elevated A reverse wave, were frequently observed.
Conclusions:
- Children with dilated cardiomyopathy often present with reduced left ventricular systolic function and abnormal diastolic function.
- Pulmonary venous flow is a more sensitive indicator of abnormal diastolic function in pediatric DCM.
- PVF demonstrates a stronger correlation with functional class than mitral Doppler flow.
Objective:
To evaluate the pulmonary venous flow in children with dilated cardiomyopathy and to establish its correlation with mitral Doppler flow and with the functional class.
Methods:
It is a descriptive and transversal study in which we evaluated the pulmonary venous flow and its correlation with mitral Doppler flow and the functional class in 14 children with dilated cardiomyopathy.
Results:
Nine patients were female. The mean age was 5.58 years and the mean follow up was 17 months. The functional class was I in 7 patients, II in 4 and III in 3. When diastolic function was evaluated using mitral Doppler flow it was abnormal in 9 of 14 patients, while the pulmonary venous flow was altered in all 14 patients since S/D ratio was abnormal in all. S wave was reduced in 12 patients; D wave was elevated in 8 patients, A reverse wave was elevated in 4 patients and in 8 the A reverse wave length was higher than mitral A wave length.
Conclusions:
Systolic function of the left ventricle is reduced in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Diastolic function is also frequently abnormal in this group of patients. Pulmonary venous flow identifies better the abnormal diastolic function and correlates better with functional class than mitral Doppler flow.

