Right ventricular myocardial performance index (Tei) in premature infants

The objective of this study was to evaluate the right ventricular myocardial performance index) based on echocardiography in very low birth weight premature neonates, close to hospital discharge.

This was a prospective cross-sectional study that included premature neonates with birth weight <1,500 g and gestational age <37 weeks at the Intermediate Neonatal Unit of Bonsucesso Federal Hospital from July 2005 to July 2006. The infants underwent two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography, being the right ventricular myocardial performance index evaluated close to hospital discharge. We compared the neonatal and echocardiographic variables in neonates with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

A total of 81 exams were analyzed. The mean birth (standard deviation) weight and gestational age were 1,140 (235) g and 30 (2.2) weeks, respectively. The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 32%. The mean right ventricle myocardial performance index (standard deviation) of the sample was 0.13 (0.06). We found a significant difference in aortic diameter [non-bronchopulmonary dysplasia 0.79 (0.07) vs. bronchopulmonary dysplasia 0.87 (0.11) cm, p=0.003], left ventricle in diastole [non-bronchopulmonary dysplasia 1.4 (0.19) vs. bronchopulmonary dysplasia 1.59 (0.21) cm, p=0.0006], ventricular septal thickness [non-bronchopulmonary dysplasia 0.23 (0.03) vs. bronchopulmonary dysplasia 0.26 (0.05) cm, p=0.032], and "a" measurement [(= sum of the isovolumetric contraction time, ejection time, and isovolumetric relaxation time) when calculating the myocardial performance index (p=0.01)].

Higher "a" interval in neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia suggests right ventricle diastolic dysfunction. We conclude that the right ventricle myocardial performance index is an important indicator both of ventricular function and for serial follow-up testing of very low birth weight premature neonates, especially those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.