ABSTRACT
We studied 20 children with congenital heart disease using Echo-Phonocardiographic techniques to determine the presence and magnitude of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The results were compared with those obtained by catheterization. There was a significant correlation between the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PSP) estimated from the right ventricular isovolumetric relaxation period and the PSP from the catheterization (r = 0.92). The ratio preejection period /right ventricular ejection time (PEP/RVET) identified the patients (PEP/RVET greater than or equal to 0.30) with a PSP mean value = 64.5 mmHg (p less than 0.01). The presence of a systolic notch on the pulmonary valve echogram distinguished the group with a PSP mean value = 60 mmHg (p less than 0.005). There was a poor correlation between the depth of the "a" wave and the E-F slope of the pulmonary valve echogram and the catheterization PSP (r = -0.50 and r = -0.40, respectively). The interval PR from the electrocardiogram minus the distance AC from the tricuspid valve echogram had a poor correlation with the right ventricular end diastolic pressure (r = 0.57). We conclude that there are some Echo-Phonocardiographic signs which are very useful in the diagnosis and measurement of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children with congenital heart disease.
