Evaluation of left ventricular function in children. Description of the method and normal values.

Thirteen patients between 5 and 13 years were presented as a normal material for statical and dynamical echocardiographic measurements including left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and systole, shortening fraction, cardiac output, mean VCF, maximal normalized and not normalized rates of increase and decrease of diameter. The data were compact and normally distributed, and the rates of diameter change were independent of patients' age and BSA, and may therefore be used as general reference.