Echocardiographic estimate of left atrial pressure in children

Abstract

Echocardiographic estimates of left atrial pressure (LAP) using the Q-C/A₂-E ratio were obtained from 40 patients and compared with directly recorded mean LAP and/or pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP).The best correlation was obtained between LAP and the Q-C/A₂-E (γ=0.95,P<0.01); a good one between PWP and the Q-C/A₂-E in normal and moderate pulmonary hypertension (γ = 0.82,P<0:01), but a poor one in severe pulmonary hypertension (γ = 0.61,P>0.05). Consequently, echocardiography provides a useful noninvasive method for the estimation of the LAP and PWP, particularly appropriate for children Intensive Care Unit.

Keywords

echocardiography / left atrial pressure / pulmonary wedge pressure

References

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