相对室壁厚度对原发性高血压患者左室功能的预测作用

目的采用超声指标评价原发性高血压患者不同左室几何构型的左室功能,探讨相对室壁厚度（RWT）与左室收缩功能和舒张功能的关系。方法利用超声心动图观察24名健康成年人和120例原发性高血压患者,根据RWT和左室重量指数（LVMI）将高血压患者分为四种左室几何构型组,分别以室壁中层缩短率（mFs）及E/A比值来评价左室收缩及舒张功能。应用单因素方差分析比较不同组间各参数的差异,应用多元回归分析分别筛选与mFs及E/A比值独立相关的参数。结果与正常对照组比较、左室正常构型组比较,向心性重构组和向心性肥厚组mFs明显降低（P〈0.01）;在多元回归分析中,RWT分别与mFs和E/A比值独立相关（r2=0.67,P〈0.01;r2=0.27,P〈0.01）。结论原发性高血压患者向心性重构组和向心性肥厚组左室收缩功能和舒张功能受损明显。RWT对原发性高血压患者左室收缩功能和舒张功能具有预测作用。     

高血压左室重构构型与室壁应力的关系

目的 探索用左室室壁长、短轴应力变化评价高血压左室重构趋势及临床意义.方法 入选96例高血压病患者和30例健康人,应用超声心动图测定左室收缩及舒张末期内径、室间隔舒张末期厚度和收缩末期厚度、左室后壁舒张末期厚度和收缩末期厚度.联合袖带肱动脉血压值计算左室收缩末期压力.根据LVMI和RWT将高血压患者分为左室正常构型组(LVN)、向心性重构组(LVCR)、向心性肥厚组(LVCH)、离心性肥厚组(LVEH).应用上述各测值计算左室收缩末期长轴应力(σm)及短轴应力(σ).结果 (1)高血压左室重构各组长轴及短轴-圆周应力均增大,与对照组比较有明显差异性(P＜0.05).(2)离心性肥厚组长轴应力与其他各组比较有明显差异性(P＜0.05).结论 根据左室收缩末期室壁长轴及圆周应力的变化趋势可以分析高血压左室重构的趋势,从而指导临床治疗.     

高血压左室重构构型与室壁应力的关系

目的探索用左室室壁长、短轴应力变化评价高血压左室重构趋势及临床意义。方法入选96例高血压病患者和30例健康人,应用超声心动图测定左室收缩及舒张末期内径、室间隔舒张末期厚度和收缩末期厚度、左室后壁舒张末期厚度和收缩末期厚度。联合袖带肱动脉血压值计算左室收缩末期压力。根据LVMI和RWT将高血压患者分为左室正常构型组(LVN)、向心性重构组(LVCR)、向心性肥厚组(LVCH)、离心性肥厚组(LVEH)。应用上述各测值计算左室收缩末期长轴应力(σm)及短轴应力(σ)。结果(1)高血压左室重构各组长轴及短轴-圆周应力均增大,与对照组比较有明显差异性(P<0.05)。(2)离心性肥厚组长轴应力与其他各组比较有明显差异性(P<0.05)。结论根据左室收缩末期室壁长轴及圆周应力的变化趋势可以分析高血压左室重构的趋势,从而指导临床治疗。     

脑钠肽与高血压左室重塑、左室功能的关系

目的:探讨原发性高血压(EH)患者脑钠肽(BNP)水平与左室几何构型、左室功能的关系。方法:应用荧光免疫法快速测定EH组(106例)和对照组(46例)的血浆BNP浓度,根据心脏彩色超声检测结果,依照左室重量指数(LVMI)、相对室壁厚度(RWT)将106例EH患者分为:正常构型亚组(12例)、向心性重构亚组(9例)、离心性肥厚亚组(64例)、向心性肥厚亚组(21例)。应用相关性分析了解EH组LVMI、RWT、年龄、血压、体质指数(BMI)、左室射血分数(LVEF)等因素与BNP关系。结果:在EH各构型亚组中LVMI以离心性肥厚亚组最高,向心性肥厚亚组、离心性肥厚亚组BNP水平较对照组升高明显。EH组LVMI与BNP具有明显的正相关性(r=0.605,P<0.01),RWT与BNP具有明显的负相关(r=-0.266,P<0.01),LVEF与BNP呈负相关(r=-0.552,P<0.01),LVMI、RWT与血压、BMI之间无明显相关性。结论:EH组中不同的左室几何构型对BNP水平产生不同影响,具有更高的LVMI值和更低的LVEF、RWT值患者,BNP水平更高,而年龄、血压、BMI与BNP、LVMI、RWT无明显相关性。     

高血压左室构型与左室中层力学的关系

目的:用室壁应力-左室中层缩短率关系做为评价心肌收缩性的指标,研究高血压不同左室构型患者心肌收缩性的改变与心功能变化的关系.方法:应用超声心动图计算左室重量指数(LVMI)和相对室壁厚度(RWT),按LVMI和RWT将左心室分为四种构型.对117例原发性高血压病人和45例健康人左心室结构按左室室壁应力(MESS)和室壁中层缩短率(mFS)来估计心功能情况.结果:以射血分数、左室短轴缩短率和左室中层缩短率表示的收缩功能离心性肥厚受损最重,以室壁应力-左室中层缩短率关系表示的心肌收缩性,向心性肥厚最重.以EF斜率等表示的心脏舒张功能高血压不同左室构型患者损害不同,舒张功能的改变与心肌收缩性的损害成正相关.结论:高血压不同左室构型患者心肌收缩性损害不同,左室构型向向心性发展在一定阶段上代偿了心肌收缩性的下降,以保持心脏收缩排血功能的正常.     

醛固酮及Ⅲ型前胶原氨基端肽与高血压患者左室几何构型的关系

目的:探讨原发性高血压(EH)患者血清醛固酮(PAC)和Ⅲ型前胶原氨基端肽(PⅢNP)水平与左室几何构型的关系.方法:采用放射免疫法测定EH组(118例)血浆PAC和PⅢNP浓度;根据心脏彩色超声检测结果,依照左室重量指数(LVMI)、相对室壁厚度(RWT)将118例EH患者分为正常构型亚组(22例)、向心性重构亚组(29例)、离心性肥厚亚组(31例)、向心性肥厚亚组(36例).应用相关性分析了解EH 组LVMI、RWT、年龄、血压、体质指数(BMI)、左室射血分数(LVEF)等因素与PAC、PⅢNP关系.结果:在EH各构型亚组中,向心性肥厚亚组、离心性肥厚亚组PAC、PⅢNP水平较对照组升高,且向心性肥厚亚组升高更明显.EH 组PAC、PⅢNP与RWT呈正相关(r=0.402, r=0.507 P<0.01),与LVMI呈负相关(r=-0.202;r=-0.307,P<0.05).而年龄、血压、BMI与LVMI、RWT无明显相关性.结论:EH组中不同的左室几何构型对PAC和PⅢNP水平产生不同影响.PAC和PⅢNP参与EH患者左室几何构型的改变,在向心性肥厚亚组中升高明显.     

超声心动图评价阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停病人左室舒张功能与左室几何构型的相关性

目的应用超声心动图评价阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAS)病人左室舒张功能与不同左室几何构型的相关性。方法选取2010年12月—2012年7月因打鼾等症状就诊于山西医科大学第一医院呼吸科且经夜间多导睡眠检测确诊为OSAS的病人181例,并按照左室几何构型分为正常构型(NG)组、向心性重构(CR)组、向心性肥厚(CH)组及离心性肥厚(EH)组,测量左室舒张功能指标,分析左室舒张功能与左室构型的相关性及其影响因素。结果 CR组、EH组、CH组舒张早期峰值流速(Em)、舒张晚期峰值流速(Am)、Em/Am依次减低,而E/Em依次增高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。Em/Am与左室质量指数(LVMI)、相对室壁厚度(RWT)呈负相关(P0.001),E/Em与LVMI、RWT呈正相关(P0.001)。结论 OSAS可致左室构型改变;不同构型中CH舒张功能受损程度最重。     

脑钠肽与高血压左室重塑、左室功能的关系

该文探讨原发性高血压（EH）患者脑钠肽（BNP）水平与左室几何构型、左室功能的关系。方法：应用荧光免疫法快速测定EH组（106例）和对照组（46例）的血浆BNP浓度，根据心脏彩色超声检测结果，依照左室质量指数（LVMI）、相对室壁厚度（RWT）将106例EH患者分为：正常构型亚组（12例）、向心性重构亚组（9例）、离心性肥厚亚组（64例）、向心性肥厚亚组（21例）。     

心肌最大弹性膜量在原发性高血压左室收缩功能评价中的应用

目的研究用最大弹性膜量(Emax)评价原发性高血压(EH)左室重构的生物力学特性及其临床意义。方法研究对象为96例EH患者(EH组)和30例健康人(正常对照组)。应用超声心动图测定左室收缩及舒张末期内径、左室收缩末期容量、重量指数(LVMI)和相对室壁厚度(RWT)、射血分数(EF)、短轴缩短率(FS)。根据LVMI和RWT将EH患者分为左室正常构型亚组、向心性重构亚组、向心性肥厚亚组、离心性肥厚亚组。应用上述各测值计算最大弹性膜量(Emax)。结果①EF、FS正常对照组分别为(62.74±1.04)%、(34.13±0.78)%,高血压正常构型亚组为(62.24±1.31)%、(33.71±1.96)%,向心性重构亚组为(64.29±1.26)%、(34.96±0.93)%,向心性肥厚亚组为(63.44±1.29)%、(34.69±0.97)%,离心性肥厚亚组为(60.13±2.08)%、(32.68±1.45)%;以EF、FS表示的心脏收缩功能在正常对照组与EH各亚组间、EH各亚组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。②Emax正常对照组为(0.209±0.0014)mmHg/ml,高血压正常构型亚组为(0.520±0.0075)mmHg/ml,向心性重构亚组为(0.697±0.0084)mmHg/ml,向心性肥厚亚组为(0.827±0.0155)mmHg/ml,离心性肥厚亚组为(0.771±0.0129)mmHg/ml。Emax在EH组呈现增高的趋势;在正常对照组与EH各亚组间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);EH各亚组间Emax差异亦具统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论应用超声心动图无创测定心功能力学参数Emax对EH左室重构心肌生物力学特性的评价具有特殊的诊断价值。     

原发性高血压患者血清胱抑素C与左室构型的关系

目的 研究心功能正常范围原发性高血压患者血清胱抑素C（CysC）水平与左室构型变化的关系,探讨左室重构与CysC的相关性,并探讨其机制.方法 纳入收缩功能正常（LVEF＞50％）原发性高血压患者180例为试验组,正常体检者50名为对照组.检测血清CysC浓度并行超声心动图检查,测量左室舒张末期内径（LVDD）、室间隔厚度（ⅣS）、左室后壁厚度（LVPW）,并计算左室重量指数（LVMI）、室壁相对厚度（RWT）.按Ganau’s分类法,将试验组分为正常型、向心性重构型、向心性肥厚型、离心性肥厚型4种构型,对各组间血浆CysC水平进行两两比较.结果 试验组较对照组血清CyaC浓度明显升高（P＜0.05）.按Ganau’s分类后,以向心性肥厚组CysC水平升高最显著（P＜0.05）,向心性构型组和离心性肥厚组依次次之（P＜0.05,P＜0.05）,正常构型组CysC水平升高最低.正常构型组较对照组CysC水平升高,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 原发性高血压患者血清CysC浓度与左室构型相关,CysC在原发性高血压左室构型的变化发展中起着一定作用.     

高血压患者左室重构与心功能及心律失常关系

研究高血压患者左室重构对心律失常及心功能影响。方法应用多普勒超过心动图声学定量技术和动态心电图检测８７例高血压压患者。结论左室重构对高血压早期左室收缩功能有一定代偿作用,但随着心室重构、左室肥大,心脏功能损害更加明显,同时心室重构明显增加室性心律失常的发生。     

Left ventricular filling in differentiating restrictive amyloid cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis

Left ventricular filling was evaluated with use of digitized left ventriculograms in patients with (1) restrictive amyloid cardiomyopathy, (2) constrictive pericarditis, and (3) a normal heart. Restrictive cardiomyopathy (four patients) was established by right and left heart hemodynamic studies and postmortem examination; all four patients had cardiac amyloidosis. Constrictive pericarditis (seven patients) was established by characteristic right and left heart catheterizatlon data and pericardial disease at operation; four patients had calcific and three had noncalcific anatomic changes. Normal subjects (seven patients) had normal intracardiac pressures and normal findings on left ventriculography and coronary arteriography.Left ventriculographic silhouettes were digitized and left ventricular volumes were calculated by computer at 16 ms intervals. Curves of left ventricular volume and ventricular filling rate were constructed for each patient and also for each group. Patients with restrictive amyloid cardiomyopathy had no plateau in the diastollc left ventricular filling volume curve, and their left ventricular filling rate was slower than normal during the first half of diastole. Patients with constrictive pericarditis had a sudden and premature plateau in the diastolic left ventricular volume filling curve. In addition, the left ventricular filling rate was faster than normal during the first half of diastole. Statistical analysis of left ventricular filling rate in patients with restrictive amyloid cardiomyopathy, patients with constrictive pericarditis and normal patients showed significant differences during the first half of diastole; those with restrictive amyloid cardiomyopathy had 45 ± 4 percent, those with constrictive pericarditis had 85 ± 4 percent and normal subjects had 65 ± 5 percent of left ventricular filling completed at 50 percent of diastole (p < 0.05).Thus, this study showed a significantly different profile of diastolic left ventricular filling volume and ventricular filling rate curves during the first half of diastole in patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy and those with constrictive pericarditis. The findings suggest the importance of these determinations in differentiating restrictive amyloid cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis at cardiac catheterization.     

Electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy in otherwise normal children. Clarification by echocardiography.

Eleven apparently normal children whose electrocardiograms demonstrated greatly increased precordial QRS voltages suggestive of left ventricular hypertrophy were studied by echocardiography to determine whether this finding represented an early manifestation of cardiac disease. Echocardiographic measurements of the thickness of the ventricular septum and of the left ventricular posterobasal wall were normal in all 11 subjects when compared with normal values for age. Also within normal limits were left ventricular, left atrial and aortic root internal diameters, left ventricular mass and the motion and structure of the anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets. We conclude: (1) These children probably have normal hearts; (2) increased precordial QRS voltage in children and adolescents, in the absence of other abnormalities, is an unreliable indicator of left ventricular hypertrophy; and (3) echocardiography is a powerful diagnostic test in determining the significance of abnormal electrocardiograms suggestive of left venticular hypertrophy.     

Echocardiographic evaluation of systolic left-ventricular function in infants with critical aortic stenosis before and after aortic valvotomy

Infants with critical aortic stenosis may have global or regional left ventricular contraction abnormalities. In order to evaluate the clinical significance of these contraction abnormalities, we examined the systolic left ventricular function before and after aortic valvotomy in 16 infants operated on between 1980 and 1987. Left ventricular free wall and septal motion were studied by cross sectional echocardiography using the apical 4-chamber view. Enddiastolic and endsystolic left ventricular frames were digitized. The relative systolic reduction of the total left ventricular area (reflecting ejection fraction) as well as of 5 left ventricular sectors (reflecting regional wall motion) was calculated and compared to previously established normal values. Before valvotomy, 8 infants had normal and the other 8 impaired left ventricular systolic wall motion. These latter infants showed hypokinesia of the apex and/or the posterolateral left ventricular wall resulting in a decreased systolic reduction of the total left ventricular area. Four of these infants had evidence of myocardial infarction on intraoperative inspection. Early after operation, the systolic reduction of the total left ventricular area was normal in all infants, and the left ventricular apex and poster-lateral wall were either normo- or hyperkinetic. Follow-up studies of all infants more than 10 months and of 7 infants more than 3 years after operation showed that the left ventricular systolic wall motion remained normal in all, irrespective of whether it was normal or abnormal preoperatively. This study suggests that left ventricular contraction abnormalities in infants with critical aortic stenosis may be reversible and thus do not constitute a contraindication against aortic valvotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Echocardiographic abnormalities in chronic alcoholics with and without overt congestive heart failure

To assess the type and prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in heavy drinkers with and without overt congestive heart failure, M mode echocardiography was performed in 11 symptomatic chronic alcoholics with dilated (congestive) cardiomyopathy and in 22 asymptomatic chronic alcoholics. Echocardiographic data in both groups were adjusted for age and body surface area using previously derived regression equations. All 11 symptomatic patients had a significantly decreased left ventricular percent fractional shortening (mean 14 percent, normal range 28 to 44) along with significant increases in left ventricular systolic and diastolic dimensions (mean increases of 105 and 48 percent above normal, respectively), left atrial dimension (mean increase 21 percent) and estimated left ventricular mass (mean increase 105 percent). Among the 22 asymptomatic patients, 15 (68 percent) demonstrated significant increases in at least one of the following echocardiographic variables: left ventricular mass, left ventricular dimensions, septal and left ventricular wall thicknesses, and left atrial dimension. Asymptomatic patients could be classified into two subgroups: (1) those with a left ventricular diastolic dimension less than 10 percent above the normal predicted value and an increased left ventricular wall thickness to radius ratio (mean increase 16 percent above normal) and upper normal percent fractional shortening, and (2) those with a left ventricular diastolic dimension 10 to 24 percent above normal and a slightly subnormal thickness to radius ratio and lower normal percent fractional shortening. Echocardiographic abnormalities in asymptomatic chronic alcoholics did not correlate with the presence or absence of auscultatory abnormalities on physical examination and appear to reflect an earlier stage in the spectrum of alcoholic disease before the development of dilated cardiomyopathy.     

老年左室舒张性心力衰竭超声心动图观察

目的评价老年左室舒张性心力衰竭超声左心形态、功能的特点。方法对核素心室造影证实的４０例左室舒张性心力衰竭（ＬＶＤＨＦ）及３０例左室收缩性心力衰竭（ＬＶＳＨＦ）进行超声心动图检查，并以２０例正常人为对照组（ＣＧ）。结果ＬＶＤＨＦ组左房内径、室间壁及左室后壁厚度增加，左室内径不大，左室舒张功能参数减低，而左室收缩功能参数正常。ＬＶＳＨＦ组左室内径明显增加，左室收缩、舒张功能参数均异常。结论老年ＬＶＤＨＦ超声心动图特点为左房内径扩大、室壁增厚、左室内径不大，左室收缩功能正常，而左室舒张功能异常。     

Clinical utility of gated cardiac blood pool imaging in congestive left heart failure

Our experience with gated cardiac blood pool imaging in the evaluation of congestive left-sided heart failure was reviewed in 82 patients. Ventricular contraction patterns, right and left ventricular size, and regional wall motion were evaluated from technetium-99m-albumin gated blood pool scans obtained in anterior and left anterior oblique projections. Patterns of ventricular function shown by scan were classified as follows: normal right and left ventricular size and contraction, normal left ventricular size with right ventricular enlargement, left ventricular volume overload, diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis, regional left ventricular asynergy, left ventricular aneurysm and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In 34 of 36 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization, the pattern of left ventricular dysfunction revealed by scan agreed with the findings on left ventriculography. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameters were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in patients with heart failure due to previous myocardial infarction, congestive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular volume overload and left ventricular pressure overload. Right ventricular diameters were increased predominantly among patients with congestive cardiomyopathy and mitral stenosis. Clinically, gated cardiac imaging was useful for (1) diagnostic screening prior to cardiac catheterization; (2) determination of the potential for improvement with surgical operation; and (3) prognostication from the severity of left ventricular dysfunction.     

Computerized echocardiographic analysis to detect abnormal systolic and diastolic left venticular function in children with aortic stenosis.

Experience with computer analysis of M mode echocardiograms for the evaluation of left ventricular function in patients with left ventricular pressure overload is reported. In order to study systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, endocardial surfaces of the septum and posterior wall were digitized and analyzed by minicomputer. The subjects included 52 normal children and 30 children with catheterization-proved aortic stenosis with (13) and without (17) coarctation. Compared with the normal children, the patients with aortic stenosis had a statistically smaller and thicker walled left ventricle and increased fractional shortening of the left ventricular minor axis. Continuous tracings of minor axis dimension and the first derivative of these tracings were plotted. The tracings allowed measurement of the maximal velocity of shortening and lengthening. Maximal velocity of shortening (normal = 96.8 ± 3 mm/sec [mean ± standard error of the mean]) was depressed to 80.8 ± 4.7 mm/sec) in the group with pressure overload. Maximal velocity of lengthening (normal = 116.4 ± 3 mm/sec) was also depressed (88.4 ± 5.2 mm/sec) in this group. Although the velocity measurements allowed separation of the normal from the abnormal group, they did not correlate closely with either left ventricular wall thickness or left ventricular systolic pressure and therefore they cannot be used to assess the severity of the left ventricular pressure overload or the need for surgical correction. Nonetheless, the study provides a method for analyzing left ventricular diastolic and systolic dynamic function from a ventricular M mode echo alone and suggests abnormal systolic and diastolic left ventricular performance in some children with aortic stenosis and left ventricular hypertrophy.     

Physiologic mechanisms governing hemodynamic responses to positive inotropic therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Clinical trials in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have shown a wide disparity in the hemodynamic responses to positive inotropic therapy. In addition, the response of the failing left ventricle to positive inotropic agents reflects the net interaction of multiple factors, including the magnitude of contractile abnormality and compensatory mechanisms. In the current study, left ventricular geometry, loading conditions, and contractile state were assessed in 13 patients with nonischemic DCM with the use of simultaneous high-fidelity pressure measurements and echocardiographic recordings. Comparisons were made with echocardiographic and calibrated carotid pulse data acquired in nine age-matched normal subjects. The patients with DCM were divided according to the left ventricular end-diastolic wall thickness-to-dimension ratio into groups with "appropriate" hypertrophy (i.e., less than or equal to 2 SDs from mean normal; n = 5; group 1) and "inadequate" hypertrophy (i.e., greater than 2 SDs from mean normal; n = 8; group 2). Age, New York Heart Association functional class, left ventricular wall mass index, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and dimension were similar for the DCM groups. Baseline left ventricular afterload (defined as circumferential end-systolic wall stress, sigma es) was 168% and 203% greater than normal in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The administration of the beta-adrenoceptor agonist dobutamine decreased left ventricular afterload by 12% in the normal subjects and by 10% in group 1 patients, while augmenting afterload by 5% in group 2 patients. The latter response occurred despite a 17% fall in systemic vascular resistance. Overall left ventricular performance, as assessed by the rate-corrected mean velocity of fiber shortening (Vcfc), was related to left ventricular afterload (i.e., sigma es). The resultant sigma es -Vcfc relationship, a sensitive measure of left ventricular contractility, was determined over a wide range of afterload conditions generated by methoxamine (normal subjects) or nitroprusside (DCM). Baseline left ventricular contractile state was 61% of normal for group 1 and 44% of normal for group 2. The contractile response to dobutamine infusion was 52% of normal for group 1 and only 22% of normal for group 2. Thus, positive inotropic therapy with dobutamine in patients with DCM is limited by (1) an attenuated contractile response and (2) elevated left ventricular afterload, which may be augmented further during its administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Left heart volume characteristics following ventricular septal defect closure in infancy.

Left ventricular and left atrial volume, left ventricular ejection fraction, and left ventricular muscle mass were determined preoperatively and postoperatively in 13 patients who underwent surgical closure of ventricular septal defects in the first two years of life. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume and systolic output averaged 255 +/- 19% (+/- SEM) and 240 +/- 19% of normal, respectively, before operation but fell to within normal limits postoperatively. Left ventricular ejection fraction was normal preoperatively (100 +/- 4% of normal) and remained so after correction (106 +/- 3%, NS). Left ventricular mass was mildly elevated at the preoperative catheterization (271 +/- 21%) and decreased significantly following repair (P less than 0.001). However, the postoperative left atrial volume (147 +/- 14%) remained abnormal (P greater than 0.05). These data suggest that when early surgical closure of a ventricular septal defect is necessary because of failure of medical management, good results with regard to postoperative left ventricular size and function can be expected.