Comparative study on heart function assessment of left single ventricle in children by echocardiography, doppler myocardial performance index and tissue doppler imaging

Objective To explore the accuracy of heart function assessment of the left single ventricle problems in children by three-dimensional echocardiography(3DE), the doppler myocardial performance index(MPI) and tissue doppler imaging(TDI). Methods Twenty-nine healthy children(the healthy control group) and 29 children with problems in the single left ventricles(the case study group) were enrolled in this study.End-diastolic volume(EDV), end-systolic volume(ESV) and ejection fraction(EF) were acquired by using IE 33 system and Q-lab software between 2 groups.MPI was calculated from doppler tracings on the ventricular inflow and outflow, and the velocity profile of atrioventricular annular was obtained by TDI.Max(dp/dt) of the left single ventricle was estimated by atrioventricular regurgitation using simplified Bernoulli equation. Results EDV, ESV and MPI in the case study group were higher than those of the healthy control group(t=2.821, 5.287, 2.085, all P<0.05 ), and EF of the case study group was lower than that of the healthy control group(t=-13.840, P<0.05). Em, Am and Em/Am on the side of the left ventricular lateral wall of mitral annulus in the control group were higher than those of the case study group at the non-residual cardiac cavity side(t=-3.059, 2.219, -4.762, P<0.05); Sm and Em/Am in the healthy control group at mitral annular lateral ventricular septal side were higher than those in the case study group at the residual cardiac cavity side(t=-2.200, -2.962, P<0.05). Q-Sm interval in healthy control group was lower than that in the case study group(t=2.345, P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between Max(dp/dt) and MPI in the case study group(r=-0.57, P<0.05), there was a positive correlation between Max(dp/dt) and EF and Q-Sm interval in the case study group(r=-0.74, 0.62, P<0.05). Conclusions Impaired ventricular functions can be found in patients with left single ventricle problems, which can be assessed accurately by 3DE. Key words: Echocardiography; Left single ventricle; Heart function