Echocardiographic Comparison of Left Ventricular Systolic Function and Aortic Blood Flow Velocimetry in Children with Ventricular Septal Defect.

Background: The assessments of left ventricular (LV) longitudinal systolic dynamics in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) have achieved a major milestone in the evaluation of LV systolic function.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the LV function, LV mass (LVM), and the descending aorta blood flow in children with VSD compared to that obtained in age and sex-matched controls.

Results: The mean LVM of the control, 113.5 ± 123.9 was higher than that of those who had VSD, 75.8 ± 83.9, and the difference in mean was found to be statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U = 2.322, P = 0.022). The mean EF of the control, 67.9 ± 10.3 was comparable to that of those with VSD, 65.6 ± 13.9, (Student's t = 1.223, P = 0.223). Similarly, the mean descending aorta blood flow of control, 1.6 ± 2.2 was comparable to that of those with VSD, 3.9 ± 16.1, (Mann-Whitney U = 1.002, P = 0.321). There was a very weak positive correlation between LVM and descending aorta blood flow among the subjects (n = 85, r = 0.117, P = 0.425). There was a very weak negative correlation between LVM and descending aorta blood flow among control. (n = 85, r = -0.065, P = 0.609).

Conclusion: The LVM among children with VSD is lower than controls but there is no difference between LV function in subjects and controls. There is a linear increase of LVM with descending aorta blood flow.