Echocardiographic estimation of ventricular hypoplasia in complete atrioventricular canal.

Echocardiograms from 10 patients with complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) were compared with autopsy specimens to determine the capabilities of echocardiography in identifying patients with ventricular hypoplasia. On the basis of echographic ventricular size, patients could be divided into three groups: 1) "balanced" CAVC patients had both increased right and left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions (RVED and LVED) and an increased RVED/LVED ratio; 2) "dominant left ventricular" CAVC patients had an increased LVED and small or normal RVED and a diminished RVED/LVED ratio; 3) "dominant right ventricular" CAVC patients had an increased RVED, but small LVED, and increased RVED/LVED. There was complete agreement between echographic ventricular dominance and pathologic findings. This study demonstrates that echocardiography may be valuable in assessing ventricular dominance in the presence of CAVC.