Background: The long-term haemodynamic effects of a restrictive ventricular septal defect permitting moderate left-to-right shunting are not known.
Patients and methods: Echocardiographic measurements of left heart dimensions and function were compared between a group of 9 older children and adults (median age 21 years, range 12-24.5 years) having restrictive ventricular septal defects (median Qp/Qs 1.7, range 1.4-2.1) and a group of 10 age matched controls.
Results: Left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area was significantly greater in subjects than in controls (102+/-29 vs. 75+/-13 g/m2, p=0.02), although there was no significant difference in the ratio of mass to volume. There were no significant differences between indexes of left ventricular systolic function. Ratios of peak early to late diastolic ventricular filling were lower in those with septal defects (1.5+/-0.3 vs. 1.8+/-0.3, p=0.03), but there were no differences in other indexes of diastolic function.
Conclusions: Resting left ventricular function does not appear to have deteriorated by early adult life in patients with restrictive ventricular septal defects and moderate volume loading. This would support a continued conservative approach to management in these patients.