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Postnatal left ventricular contractility in very low birth weight infants
Y Takahashi1, K Harada, S Kishkurno
1Department of Pediatrics, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010, Japan.
Pediatric Cardiology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants show reduced left ventricular (LV) contractility initially after birth. However, their cardiac function improves, matching that of normal term infants by day 5.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Cardiology
- Pediatric Echocardiography
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Assessing left ventricular (LV) contractility in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is crucial for understanding their cardiovascular adaptation.
- Postnatal hemodynamic changes can significantly impact cardiac function in vulnerable newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate postnatal changes in left ventricular (LV) contractility in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
- To compare the LV contractility of VLBW infants with that of normal term infants during the early postnatal period.
Main Methods:
- An echocardiographic study was conducted on 18 VLBW infants and 16 normal term infants.
- Echocardiographic examinations were performed within 6 hours of birth and on day 5.
- Rate-corrected mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcfc) and end-systolic wall stress (ESS) were calculated to assess LV contractility.
Main Results:
- Both VLBW and term infants demonstrated inverse linear correlations between mVcfc and ESS.
- At 6 hours postpartum, VLBW infants exhibited a lower y-intercept and steeper slope compared to term infants.
- By day 5, the regression lines for VLBW and term infants nearly corresponded, indicating improved contractility.
Conclusions:
- The left ventricle in VLBW infants adapts to postnatal hemodynamic alterations with initially reduced contractility.
- VLBW infants achieve a contractile state similar to term infants by day 5 of life.