Article Text
Research Article
Prediction of left ventricular pressure in infants with aortic stenosis.
Abstract
Peak systolic left ventricular pressure was predicted in five infants with aortic stenosis by use of a wall stress constant, K. K was determined in 10 normal infants according to the formula K = P . Ds/Ws, where P = arterial pressure by Doppler, DS = end-systolic LV dimension, and WS = end-systolic wall thickness. Left ventricular peak systolic pressure was estimated in five infants using the formula P = K. Ws/Ds. Excellent correlation was obtained between measured left ventricular pressure and left ventricular-aortic pressure difference at cardiac catheterisation and echo estimates. Echocardiographic assessment of the severity of aortic stenosis may be applied to infants with good results.