Left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction quantificationusing an automated three-dimensional adaptive analyticechocardiographic algorithm in pediatric population

Abstract

Introduction: The quantitative measurement of the left ventricle by echocardiogra-phy is a fundamental tool in the diagnosis and prognosis of acquired and congenitaldiseases in the pediatric population. The objective of this study was to validate anautomated three-dimensional adaptive analytic echocardiographic algorithm, the so-called Heart Model ® (HM) in the pediatric population, using as comparators the leftatrial and left ventricular volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction obtained bymeans of conventional 2D and 3D echocardiography.Methods: Pilot study, where a population comprised of 75 consecutive patients aged6–17 years who attended a pediatric cardiology clinic, was evaluated. Every patientunderwent a conventional 2D and 3D echocardiography and an analysis using HM.Conventional 3D echo was used as the reference method.Results: Seventy-five patients were analyzed. Mean age was 11.2 (4.0) years (52.2%women). The intraclass correlation coefficient of HM vs 2D echo was poor, but it wasgood for the agreement between HM and 3D echo for left ventricular end-diastolicvolume (ICC: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97–0.99; P < 0.001), left ventricular end-systolic volumeICC: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96–0.99; P = 0.001), and left ventricular ejection fraction (ICC:0.87; 95% CI: 0.78–0.92; P < 0.001). The agreement was also good for the three pa-rameters when the analysis was performed according to body weight.Conclusions: Heart Model ® is a feasible and accurate tool for the evaluation of leftatrial and left ventricular volumes and left ventricular ejection fraction in pediatricpopulation aged above 6 years.