Effects of respiration on left ventricular diastolic function in healthy children

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic indices of mitral valve fillingwere measured in 20 healthy children, between 3 and 125 yearsold, in order to evaluate the effects of spontaneous respirationon left ventricular diastolic filling patterns. There were significantrespiratory variations in four parameters of left ventriculardiastolic function: The peak early filling velocity, the ratioof early to late peak filling velocity, and the ratio of earlyto late diastolic velocity-time integral decreased significantlyduring inspiration (mean decrease 7%, P<0·05; 16%,P<0·01; and 12%, P<0·05, respectively).On the other hand there was a significant increase in late peakfilling velocity with inspiration (10% increase, P<0·05).Other variables of left ventricular diastolic filling were unchangedwith inspiration. These results suggest that assessment of leftventricular diastolic function in children should be standardizedwith regard to respiratory phases in any clinical application. (Eur Heart J 1996; 17: 453%456)