doppler-derived myocardial performance index in healthy children in shiraz

background: assessment of myocardial function is essential in heart disease, but in regard to systolic and diastolic functions such evaluation has limitation. ejection fraction is difficult to assess in abnormally-shaped ventricles, and diastolic inflow velocity pattern may be fused because of tachycardia.   objective: a myocardial performance index (mpi) or tei index has been developed for adults and children. it is a doppler derived non-geometric measure of ventricular function and is independent of heart rate. this index measures the ratio of isovolumic contraction time plus isovolumic relaxation time to ventricular ejection time.   methods : we studied 108 healthy children from 3 days to18 years of age, in whom ejection fraction was measured using m-mode (73±8%) and 2-dimensional echocardiogram biplane simpson's method (62±7%).   results : right and left ventricular myocardial performance indices were 0.25 ±0.09 and 0.36 ±0.11 respectively. no correlation was found between echo doppler index and age, heart rate and left ventricular dimensions.    conclusion : thus, mpi is a simple and accurate tool for quantitative assessment of right and left ventricular functions and because of easy application and reproducibility; it could be regarded as an important measurement in a comprehensive hemodynamic study, especially in those with abnormal ventricular geometry.