Abstract

Objective: To assess the long axis function of both ventricles during the early neonatal period by using pulsed wave Doppler tissue (PWDT) echocardiography.

Design: PWDT echocardiography was recorded from the lateral sites of the mitral and tricuspid annuluses and the tip of interventricular septum in 130 neonates within 24 hours after birth (day 0 group), in 135 neonates 1–7 days after birth (day 1–7 group), and in 131 healthy children (children group).

Results: Peak systolic motion velocity (Sw) of the three ventricular walls positively correlated with the number of days after birth (p < 0.005). Compared with the children group, in neonates Sw in the right ventricle and peak early diastolic motion velocity (Ew) and peak atrial systolic motion velocity in the interventricular septum were lower than in the remaining two walls (p < 0.0005, p < 0.0001, and p< 0.0001, respectively). Although peak mitral and tricuspid flow velocities during early diastole (E) correlated with the number of hours after birth in the day 0 group, there was no significant change in the Ew of either ventricle. The E:Ew ratio of both ventricles was significantly higher in both neonate groups than in the children group (p < 0.001). The E:Ew ratio of the left ventricle was higher in the day 0 group than in the day 1–7 group (p < 0.005).

Conclusions: The two ventricles differ in their normal PWDT echocardiographic values and in the parameter change after birth during the early neonatal period, which may reflect differences in ventricular adaptation after birth.