Echocardiographic nomograms for upper abdominal aorta Doppler systolic wave values and systo-diastolic diameters variations in children

Massimiliano Cantinotti, Raffaele Giordano, Iuri Corsini, Carlo Dani, Marco Scalese, Bruno Murzi, Nadia Assanta, Isabella Spadoni, Sabrina Molinaro, Shelby Kutty, Giorgio Iervasi, Eliana Franchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Abdominal aorta pulsatility and blood flow patterns are important diagnostic indicators in congenital heart disease. Reference values for these indexes are lacking. Methods: We prospectively studied abdominal aorta pulsed-wave Doppler systolic peak velocity, deceleration time, and wave duration, and two-dimensional vessel diameters in systole and diastole in healthy Caucasian children. Heteroscedasticity was accounted for by White or Breusch–Pagan test. Age, weight, height, heart rate (HR), and body surface area (BSA) were used as independent variables in different analyses to predict the mean values of each measurement. Structured Z-scores were then computed. Results: In all, 853 subjects (age 0 days to 17 years; 45% females; BSA 0.12–2.12 m 2 ) were studied. The predicted values and Z-score boundaries are presented. Data are also presented as mean ± 2 SDs for a given BSA. Conclusions: We report paediatric echocardiographic nomograms for multiple proximal abdominal aorta parameters including pulsed-wave Doppler systolic velocities, deceleration time, wave duration, and two-dimensional vessel diameter variations. Significant variations in these functional indexes with age were found that should be taken into account in clinical practice. At lower ages, steeper and shorter pulsed-wave Doppler peak velocity and limited pulsatility should be expected as physiologic findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)394-400
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Cardiology
Volume71
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Children
  • Echocardiography
  • Nomograms

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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