Abstract
Although the ventricular septum (S) participates in left ventricular (LV) contraction (LVC) in normal subjects, no data are available regarding the relative contribution of S as compared to the LV posterior wall (LVW) to LVC in normal children. Thickening of S and LVW during systole, expressed as thickening fraction (TF) can be studied by echocardiography and thereby the relative contribution of these structures to LVC can be assessed. We therefore performed echograms upon a group of clinically normal school children to establish normal values for TF. Strip chart recordings of the LV at its midcavity sector containing mitral echoes were obtained by means of a 2.25 MHz transducer. The thickness of LVW and of S was measured at the onset of QRS complex of the EKG and at the point of maximum systolic excursion, The difference in these two measurements were expressed as a percentage to obtain TF for LVW and S (TFS=S syatole-S diastole X 100/S diastole), for several cardiac cycles and averaged. TF results were as follows: Mean and standard error of mean for S=51.51% (3.14) and for LVW 81.34% (3.64). The difference between these values was significant with p=<0.001. This data establishes normal TF values for S and LVW in children. In addition, these results suggest that LVW contributes more than S to LV contraction In normal children.
(Sponsor: Eli Gold)
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George, L., Demaria, A., Riemenschneider, T. et al. COMPARATIVE THICKENING FRACTION OF SEPTUM AND POST-ERIOR LEFT VENTRICULAR WALL IN NORMAL CHILDREN ON ECHOGRAM. Pediatr Res 11, 391 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00130
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00130
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