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Subject Area

Cardiology and Vascular Medicine

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background Ventricular septal defect (VSD) leads left-to-right shunt with volume-overloaded left atrium (LA) and left ventricle. LA enlargement has been shown to be a reliable predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Objectives To assess LA function in VSD patients by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography. Patients and methods This retrospective study included 30 VSD patients aged less than 6 years (group I) and 30 age-matched and sex-matched normal controls (group II). All included individuals underwent detailed history taking, thorough clinical examination, and 12-lead ECG. With transthoracic echocardiography, we measured the LA volume. Assessment of LA reservoir, conduit, and pump functions was done using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging. Results There was a statistically significant greater (P = 0.002), LA volume, and a statistically highly significant lower (P < 0.001). LA global contractile strain among group I than group II. However, there were nonsignificantly higher and lower strain values for reservoir and conduit functions, respectively (P = 0.383 and 0.842, respectively) between both groups. There was a correlation between age and LA phasic functions and there was a statistically highly significant positive correlation between age and both peak atrial global reservoir strain and LA volume (P < 0.001) with a statistically significant negative correlation with LA contractile strain in group I compared with group II. Conclusion Hemodymically, VSD leads to LA volume overload that affects the LA mechanical function, especially reservoir and contractility. This effect increases with age progression if left uncorrected.

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