Normal values for cardiac and great arterial dimensions in premature infants by cross-sectional echocardiography

Abstract

The number of neonates who undergo intracardiac repair for congenital heart disease has increased in recent years. In considering appropriate surgical options in such circumstances, normal values for various cardiovascular dimensions are needed. We measured 19 parameters for the heart and great arteries (four valves, pulmonary tree, aortic arch, ascending and descending aorta, ventricular septum, left ventricular internal and posterior wall dimensions) using cross-sectional echocardiography in 55 premature and full-term infants (ranging in gestational age from 23 to 41 weeks, in body weight from 543 to 3966 g). The increase in each dimension correlated closely with body weight (r=0.62 to 0.87) and was found to follow a linear regression. The diameter of the isthmus was found to be smaller, and the size of mitral valve annulus larger, than previously published values.

Novel regression equations of left ventricular dimensions in infants less than 1 year of age and premature neonates obtained from echocardiographic examination

“…Imai et al 7 reported that the increase in the rate of development of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension correlated closely with body weight in 55 premature and full-term infants, with weight ranging from 543 to 3966 grams. They reported the equation as left ventricular end-diastolic dimension = 9.369 + 2.161 × (body weight in kilogram) and r-value as 0.74.…”

Normal reference ranges for aortic diameters in preterm infants

“…In 1995, Imai et al [26] measured 19 parameters for the heart and great artery (four valves, pulmonary tree, aortic arch, ascending and descending aorta, ventricular septum, and left ventricular internal and posterior wall dimensions) using cross-sectional echocardiography in 55 premature and full-term infants (ranging in gestational age from 23 weeks to 41 weeks, and in body weight from 543 g to 3966 g). The increase in each dimension correlated closely with body weight and was found to follow a linear regression.…”