[Determination of left ventricular volumes using 2-dimensional echocardiography in children]

In the first part of the study we examined silicone rubber left ventricular casts of children and adolescents by cross-sectional echocardiography using the so-called two-chamber and four-chamber apical views. Left ventricular volumes calculated from the echocardiographic left ventricular silhouettes correlated very well (r = 0.99) with the titrated cast volumes. In the second part of the study we compared in 30 infants, children, and adolescents left ventricular volumes as calculated from the two-chamber and four-chamber apical echocardiographic views with those obtained from the frontal projection of the left ventricular cineangiogram. Volumes calculated from the apical four-chamber view showed an acceptable correlation with those determined by angiography (r = 0.96 for enddiastolic and r = 0.90 for endsystolic volume). Underestimation of left ventricular enddiastolic volume by echocardiography was corrected by a factor of 1.33; no correction factor was necessary for the endsystolic volume. The correlation between the endsystolic volumes obtained by echocardiographic two-chamber view and by cineangiography was poor. Finally, in 51 infants, children, and adolescents without heart disease we determined left ventricular volumes and derived variables by cross-sectional echocardiography, using the previously established correction factor for the calculation of enddiastolic volumes. Both enddiastolic and endsystolic volumes were found to correlate linearly to body surface area.