Variable Myocardial Response to Load Stresses in Infants with Single Left Ventricular Anatomy: Influence of Initial Physiology and Surgical Palliative Strategy.

Initial surgical strategies in neonates with single left ventricular (LV) anatomy vary based on adequacy of pulmonary and systemic blood flow. Differing myocardial responses to these strategies, as reflected in indices of systolic function, ventricular size, and mass have not been well defined. We sought to evaluate single LV myocardial response to varied physiology and initial palliation and determine whether the response is consistent and predictable.

Pulmonary valve replacement improves but does not normalize right ventricular mechanics in repaired congenital heart disease: a comparative assessment using velocity vector imaging.

Background: This study evaluated regional right ventricular (RV) mechanics before and after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) by ultrasonic speckle tracking technology using velocity vector imaging (VVI).

Methods: Fifty-eight patients who underwent PVR (May 1999 to August 2007) were included. Two-dimensional Doppler indices included qualitative pulmonary incompetence, RV outflow tract peak gradient, RV systolic pressure estimate, indexed RV area, and fractional area change; VVI regional indices included peak systolic and diastolic velocities, peak systolic strain, maximal longitudinal displacement, and times to peak measure from 6 RV segments.

Assessment of regional right ventricular velocities, strain, and displacement in normal children using velocity vector imaging.

Background: Velocity vector imaging (VVI) is a novel technique to assess regional myocardial mechanics. We evaluated the utility of VVI in the assessment of right ventricular (RV) function in normal children.

Methods: RV images (apical 4-chamber view, high frame rate capture) from 30 normal children (mean 8.