January 27, 2023Forensic Science Medicine and PathologyOpen Access

Significant difference in cardiac ventricular dimensions when measured using two different standard methods

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Why the study?

Postmortem cardiac ventricular dimensions assess chamber hypertrophy, but there is no clear consensus on whether measurements should be taken at the mid-ventricular level or at a set distance from the base of the heart.

Does measuring ventricular dimensions at 20 mm from the base of the heart compared to the mid-ventricular level yield different values and better correlation with heart weight in adult postmortem hearts?

Population

20 consecutive adult hearts examined at postmortem examination

Comparison

Measurement at 20 mm from the base of the heart vs mid-ventricular level

Design

Postmortem study

Authors

JGJack GarlandGriffith University MTMelissa ThompsonGriffith University ITIsabella ThompsonUniversity of Arkansas at Fayetteville

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Significant differences by measurement site warrant caution in hypertrophy assessment; leaves open optimal standardization.

Structured PICO

Population

20 consecutive adult Caucasian postmortem hearts with a clear cause of death, examined at the Forensic Pathology Department, Gold Coast University Hospital, Queensland, Australia. Mean age 51.7 years, 11 males and 9 females.

Intervention

Measurement of cardiac ventricular dimensions at 20 mm from the base of the heart

Comparator

Measurement of cardiac ventricular dimensions at the mid-ventricular level

Outcome

Difference in ventricular dimensions between the two measurement levels and correlation with heart weightsurrogate

Measuring ventricular dimensions at 20 mm from the base of the heart yields significantly larger values than at the mid-ventricular level and correlates better with heart weight, suggesting it is a better predictor of cardiac hypertrophy in postmortem examinations.

Limitations

Not designed to develop a conversion method between the two levels
Not designed to establish a threshold for cardiac hypertrophy using ventricular dimensions
Did not investigate whether there is a difference in ventricular walls and interventricular septum thickness at different levels

Cite This Study

Garland et al. (2023) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a76372dd5b06e2c1e614df1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00579-5

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Significant difference in cardiac ventricular dimensions when measured using two different standard methods

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Significant difference in cardiac ventricular dimensions when measured using two different standard methods

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider