Background :
@EN Noninvasive estimation of pulmonary artery pressure is an important component echocardiographic studies. A number of methods are available for estimation of pulmonary pressure, each with varying degrees of reported accuracy. To assess
accuracy
and
difficulties, noninvasive pulmonary artery pressure estimates were performed in infants and children with congenital heart diseases.
@ES Methods :
@EN Noninvasive estimates from 8 methods were compared with catheterization measurements. Systolic pressure was estimated by the Burstin method and from peak tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and also from systolic pressure gradients trough the
VSD(ventricular septal defect) and PDA(patent ductus arteriosus). Mean pressure was estimated by acceleration time divided by ejection time measured from Doppler spectrum obtained at the right ventricular out flow tract. Diastolic pressure was
estimated
from pulmonary regurgitation velocity spectrum at end-diastolic, and also from diastolic pressure gradient through te patent ductus arteriosus.
@ES Results :
@EN In systolic pressure, Burstin and tricuspid regurgitation velocities estimates correlated significantly(r=0.92, 0.90 respectively), whereas VSD and PDA estimates correlated less well with catheterization estimates(r=0.83, 0.65 respectively).
The
mean pressure, measured from RVOT(right ventricular outflow tract) Doppler spectrum corresponded well with catheterization pressure(r=0.89), whereas those obtained from the main pulmonary artery correlated less well(r=0.74). The diastolic
pressure
estimates from pulmonary regurgitation velocity spectrum revealed good correlation(r=0.79), but those from diastolic Doppler spectrum at PDA correlated less well with catheterization estimates(r=0.63).
@ES Conclusion :
@EN All of eight Doppler echocardiographic methods seemed to be easily performable for estimation of pulmonary artery pressure. But, the degree of accuracy was variable. Because a pressure estimate from only a single method may be in error, care
should
be taken in combining use of other (one or two) methods.
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