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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
[Echocardiographic Doppler evaluation of ventricular function in children with an atrial septal defect]
Ana M Schroh1, Lidia B Laghezza, Pablo J Domínguez
1Servicio de Cardiología Infantil, Hospital Pediátrico Dr. Humberto J. Notti, Mendoza, Argentina. amschroh@yahoo.com
Insights
Children with atrial septal defects (ASD) show normal left ventricular function but increased right ventricular systolic function. Right ventricular diastolic function remains unchanged in pediatric ASD patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart anomaly.
- Ventricular function assessment is crucial for managing ASD.
- Doppler echocardiography provides valuable insights into cardiac mechanics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate left and right ventricular function in children with ASD using Doppler echocardiography.
- To compare ventricular function parameters between children with ASD and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- 158 children were studied: 111 with ASD (Group 1) and 47 healthy controls (Group 2).
- Left ventricular systolic function assessed via ejection fraction, shortening fraction, and mitral annular velocity.
- Left and right ventricular diastolic function evaluated using transmitral Doppler indices, flow propagation velocity, and annular velocities.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in left ventricular systolic or diastolic function between groups.
- Children with ASD exhibited significantly increased right ventricular systolic function.
- Right ventricular diastolic function, assessed by early and late diastolic tricuspid annular velocities, was unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Left ventricular function is preserved in children with ASD.
- Right ventricular systolic function is enhanced in pediatric ASD patients.
- Right ventricular diastolic function is not significantly altered by ASD.
Introduction And Objectives:
To evaluate ventricular function using Doppler echocardiography in patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD).
Methods:
The study involved 158 children, who were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised 111 children with an ASD, and Group 2, 47 healthy children. Left ventricular systolic function was evaluated by measuring the ejection fraction, the shortening fraction, and the systolic mitral annular velocity (by tissue Doppler), and right ventricular systolic function, by measuring the systolic tricuspid annular velocity. Left ventricular diastolic function was evaluated by measuring standard transmitral Doppler indices, the color M-mode Doppler flow propagation velocity (Vp), the E/Vp ratio, and early and late diastolic mitral annular velocities at the lateral and septal areas of the mitral annulus (EML, EMS and AML, AML waves, respectively), and right ventricular diastolic function, by using pulsed tissue Doppler to measure early and late diastolic tricuspid annular velocities (ET and AT waves, respectively).
Results:
There was no significant difference between the two groups in any left ventricular systolic or diastolic function parameter, except that the EML and EMS velocities were smaller in Group 1. Right ventricular systolic function was significantly increased in children with an ASD. The peak ET wave velocity was similar in the two groups but the peak AT wave velocity was significantly greater in children with an ASD.
Conclusions:
Systolic and diastolic left ventricular function (i.e., preload-independent indices) were similar in the two groups. Children with an ASD demonstrated an increase in right ventricular systolic function, though diastolic function was unchanged.
