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Interparametric Correlation Between Echocardiographic Markers in Preterm Infants With Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Pediatric Cardiology volume 34, pages 1212–1217 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Various echocardiographic parameters are determined in the assessment and evaluation of a patent ductus arteriosus. In isolation, many of these parameters have a low sensitivity and specificity for ductal hemodynamic significance compared with ductal size. This study aimed to correlate various echocardiographic parameters with ductal size (transductal diameter) in infants with a symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus and to ascertain the accuracy of various parameters in predicting a duct 3 mm in size or larger. In this retrospective study, preterm infants younger than 32 weeks gestation who were evaluated for the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus during the period June 2010–2012 were assessed. The following echocardiographic parameters were measured: transductal diameter (TDD), ductal velocity, end-diastolic left pulmonary artery flow, ductal diameter-to-left pulmonary artery ratio (TDD:LPA), left atrial-to-aortic root ratio (LA:Ao), left ventricular output-to-superior vena cava flow ratio (LVO:SVC), transmitral E:A ratio, and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT). The study enrolled 52 infants with a mean gestation age of 26 ± 2 weeks and a mean birth weight of 837 ± 240 g. The mean transductal diameter was 2.8 ± 0.5 mm. Transductal diameter correlated significantly with ductal velocity, end-diastolic LPA flow, TDD:LPA ratio, LA:Ao ratio, and LVO:SVC ratio but not with transmitral indices. The LVO:SVC ratio had the highest specificity (0.83) and sensitivity (0.95) for detecting a duct 3 mm in size or larger, the area under the curve being 0.95 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 0.85–0.99). Significant correlations between ductal size and surrogate markers of pulmonary overcirculation were noted.

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Funding or financial relationship: None

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Affiliations

  1. Monash Newborn, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia

    Arvind Sehgal

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3168, Australia

    Arvind Sehgal & Samuel Menahem

  3. Monash Heart, Southern Health, Melbourne, Australia

    Samuel Menahem

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  1. Arvind Sehgal
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  2. Samuel Menahem
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Correspondence to Arvind Sehgal.

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Sehgal, A., Menahem, S. Interparametric Correlation Between Echocardiographic Markers in Preterm Infants With Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Pediatr Cardiol 34, 1212–1217 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-013-0640-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-013-0640-5

Keywords

  • Ductal size
  • Echocardiography
  • Patent ductus arteriosus