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The isovolumic contraction time of the left ventricle. An echographic study
Insights
Echocardiography revealed that the isovolumic contraction time (ICT) of the left ventricle (LV) differs in pediatric cardiac conditions. Prolonged ICT indicates LV myocardial disease, while shortened ICT suggests patent ductus arteriosus or aortic stenosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Physiology
Background:
- Assessing left ventricular (LV) performance is crucial in pediatric cardiac disease.
- Echocardiography provides a non-invasive method to evaluate cardiac function.
- Isovolumic contraction time (ICT) is a key indicator of LV systolic performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure echographic isovolumic contraction time (ICT) in children.
- To assess alterations in LV performance in various pediatric cardiac conditions.
- To compare ICT values between normal children and those with specific cardiac diseases.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography was used to measure the isovolumic contraction time (ICT).
- ICT was defined as the interval between mitral valve leaflet coaptation and aortic cusp opening.
- Four groups were studied: normal children, LV myocardial disease, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and aortic stenosis (AS).
Main Results:
- In normal children, ICT shortened with decreasing age and increasing heart rate.
- LV myocardial disease patients showed markedly prolonged ICT.
- PDA and AS patients exhibited shortened ICT compared to normal controls (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Echographic ICT is a sensitive marker for LV performance alterations in pediatric cardiac disease.
- Prolonged ICT is associated with LV myocardial disease.
- Shortened ICT is observed in conditions like PDA and AS, indicating altered LV dynamics.
Abstract:
The echographic isovolumic contraction time (ICT) of the left ventricle (LV) was measured in order to assess alterations of LV performance in children with various forms of cardiac disease. The echographic ICT was defined as the interval between coaptation of the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets and aortic cusp opening. Four groups of patients were evaluated: normal (48); LV myocardial disease (20); patent ductus arterosus (PDA) (19); and aortic stenosis (AS) (15). In normal children ICT shortened with decreasing age and increasing heart rate. Isovolumic contraction time was more influenced by heart rate (HR) than age, but the relationship was still weak (r = 0.61). In patients with LV myocardial disease ICT was markedly prolonged, while in children with patent ductus arteriosus and aortic stenosis it was shortened as compared with normal children (P less than 0.01).