3 D Echocardiographic evaluation of Right ventricular  functions . a prognostic study  in pediatric population with critical pulmonary stenosis undergoing balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Background: To evaluate RV functional indices using 3D echocardiography in infants with critical pulmonary stenosis undergoing balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and to evaluate RV indices as follow up parameters in infants with critical PS. Results: : A total of 60 patients underwent BPV with median age of 8.5 ( range 2- 12 months ). 3D echo revealed lower RV volumes ( P <0.001) , higher FAC( P< 0.001) , higher TAPSE ( P< 0.001) , higher EF ( P < 0.001), , lower basal , mid and longitudinal RV dimension ( P< 0.001) . FAC , TAPSE and RV basal and longitudinal diameter were significantly larger by 3d echo than by 2D echo (P=0.01). Conclusions: : In patients with critical PS undergoing BPV , assessment of RV indices using 3 D echo is more reliable and effective method to assess RV volumes and function in comparison with conventional 2D echocardiography.