Angiographic and morphologic features of the left ventricle in Ebstein's malformation

Quantitative and qualitative cineangiographic analysis of the left ventricle (LV) was performed in 26 patients with isolated Ebstein's malformation, having a mean age of 23 ± 17 years. Nine autopsied hearts with isolated Ebstein's malformation were submitted to morphologic and morphometric analysis. In 4 of the cases, it was possible to make a direct correlation between the angiographic data obtained during life and the autopsy findings. On the basis of the LV end-diastolic volume we identified 3 groups of patients: 7 with volume <60 ml/m2, another 7 with volume between 60 and 80 ml/m2, and 12 with volume > 80 ml/m2. The LV ejection fraction was reduced in 2 patients with normal LV end-diastolic volume and in 6 with increased LV end-diastolic volume. The ratio of ventricular mass to LV end- diastolic volume was always adequate, but a reduction of the ventricular contractive performance (end-systolic pressure to end-systolic volume ratio <3 mm Hg/ml/m2) was found only in patients with a...