Cross-sectional echocardiographic measurement of right atrial and right ventricular size in children with atrial septal defect before and after surgery

Summary A total of 25 children operated on for atrial septal defect were studied by cross-sectional echocardiography before and after operation. Right atrial and right ventricular dimensions and areas were measured preoperatively and 1–4 years (median, 32 months) postoperatively. The length, width, and area of the right atrium (RA) and the right ventricle (RV) were measured in the apical and the subcostal four-chamber views. The dimension of the RV outflow tract (RVOT) was measured in the parasternal short-axis view.Preoperatively, all group mean values except the subcostal four-chamber length of the RV were significantly larger than normal.After surgery, there was a significant decrease in all of the parameters studied, except for RV length. The mean postoperative values of RA measurements in the apical four-chamber view and of RVOT were still significantly larger than normal. The RV four-chamber measurements except the apical four-chamber length were not significantly enlarged. The greatest decrease in RA and RV size occurred in the first postoperative year. Longer follow-up periods did not change the measurements significantly.