Doppler Echocardiographic Prediction of Pulmonary Arterial Pressure in Ventricular Septal Defect

Kim, Young Mee; Kim, Myung Sung; Kim, Joon Sik; Kwon, Tae Chan; Kang, Chin Moo

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the accuracy of Doppler echocardiography for predicting the pulmonary arterial pressure from right ventricular systolic time intervals in 52 patients with ventricular septal defect. The diagnosis of ventricular septal defect was made by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography at Dong San hospital, Keimyung University during the period of one year from jan. 1988 to Dec. 1988. Doppler measurements of acceleration time (AT), right ventricular ejection time (RVET), right ventricular preejection period (RPEP), AT/RVET, and RPEP/AT were compared with pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), measured by cardiac catheterization. The patients were divided into 3 groups : PAP< or =30mm Hg, PAP 31-59mm Hg, PAP??0mm Hg. The following results were obtained. 1) In the groups of PAP< or =30mm Hg, AT was 0.12+/-0.01sec, AT/RVET was 0.47+/-0.07 and RPEP/AT was 0.50+/-0.05. 2) In the groups of PAP> or =60mm HG, AT was 0.06+/-0.01sec. AT/RVET was 0.28+/-0.05. RPEP/AR was 1.51+/-0.21. As the level of PAP increased, Doppler AT, AT/RVET and RPEP/AT showed significant change(P<0.001). 3) The Doppler AT showed relative high correlation(r=-0.76) with PAP measured by cardiac catheterization in all group. 4) The Doppler AT/RVET showed correlation(r=-0.70) with PAP. 5) The Doppler RPEP/AT showed high correlation(r=0.91) with PAP. The Doppler echocardiography was easy to apply in all age groups, and was found useful for detecting pulmonary hypertension in ventricular septal defect and for the follow-up check of the patients. It may help to determine the optimal time for surgery and evaluation of the treatment.