Objective: Pectus excavatum (PE) is characterized by the posterior displacement of inferior sternum and adjacent cartilages and is the most common congenital chest wall deformity. We aimed to investigate right and left ventricular functions and its correlation with pectus severity index in children.Methods: Echocardiography was performed in 32 children with PE and 40 healthy controls. The following parameters were monitored: Left and right ventricular (LV, RV) ejection fraction (EF), ejection time (ET), stroke volume (SV), shortening fraction (SF), mitral and tricuspid early (E) and late (A) ventricular filling velocities and deceleration time (DT), median pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm), aorta and pulmonary acceleration time (Ao-AT, PA-AT), RV work index (RVWI), isovolumetric myocardial acceleration (IVMA), and LV pulmonary ejection period (PEPLV). To assess the severity of pectus, Haller Index (HI) was calculated by thorax computed tomography.
Results:There was no significant difference regarding averages of the body surface area (BSA) between the groups.The arithmetic averages of the EF-Left, ET-Left, ET-Right, SV-Left, TV-DT, PA-AT, and PEPLV were higher in children with PE than in controls, but SF-Left, SF-Right, MV-A, and IVMA were found to be lower. Haller Index (HI) value in children with PE was 2. 00-4.93(2.62±0.56). We failed to demonstrate any statistically significant relationship between the cardiac data of children with PE and HI.
Conclusion:Despite the fact that most children had only a mild or moderate form of PE, the RV and LV functions were affected.
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