The Blood Speckle Tracking Fluid Dynamics before and after Ventricular Septal Defect Surgery.

Abstract

Background: Blood circulation within the cardiovascular system manifests in several forms, including laminar, turbulent, or vortical flow. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical applicability and diagnostic value of the innovative blood speckled tracking (BST) echocardiography technique modality in the diagnosis and hemodynamic assessment of patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) in the pediatric age group.

Patients and methods: This is a case-control analytical study with 40 patients with VSD who underwent surgical closure, and 20 age and sex matched controls with normal cardiovascular status. Participants were evaluated using BST echocardiography preoperatively and at least 3 months after surgery at a tertiary university-based pediatric hospital.

Results: Our study demonstrates that diastolic vortex dimensions by BST were larger with VSD physiologic in relation to postoperative state and controls; and positive correlations with left ventricle (LV) dimensions, as well as heart rate, age and anthropometric measurements. During systole, a decrease was revealed following surgery, with no difference compared to controls.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that vortex dimensions are influenced by LV dimensions and may infer on the hemodynamic impact of the VSD; it may also indicate the progress in function associated with VSD closure. Correlations with heart rate, age, and anthropometrics might point to the need to develop normograms for standardization and stratification.