Pre- And Postoperative Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function in Adult Patients With Atrial Septal Defect

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular function of adult patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). Twenty-five patients were studied by cardiac catheterization and left ventriculography before and after intracardiac repair. Global and regional left ventricular function such as left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), stroke index (SI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and percent shortening of regional wall motion during normal heart beat or postextrasytolic potentiation (PESP) were determined. Global and regional LVEDVI, SI, LVEF and percent shortening of LV regional wall motion of the patients in NYHA I and II groups were within almost normal range pre-and postoperatively, but these factors in NYHA III-IV groups were significantly decreased preoperatively and increased postoperatively. During PESP, these factors of LV function were markedly improved and seemed to indicate myocardial reserve of the left ventricle.In conclusion, LV dysfunction in patients with NYHA III-IV could improve postoperatively and the LV function during PESP might be an indicator of a left ventricular reserve.