Ultrasound Monitoring of Right Ventricular Haemodynamics in Children with Complications of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Background: The aim of this study was to verify the benefits of a separate evaluation of pulmonary and systemic haemodynamics for the management of treatment. For the purposes of this study, we selected the data of the time period from 2006 to 2010. Methods: A total of 53 children, average age 1.82 years (SD 1.06) were included in the study and divided according to Lung Injury Score (LIS) and Predicted Risk Index Scoring of Mortality (PRISM). Group A (n= 25) included patients with LIS?1.5 points; PRISM?20 points and group B (n= 28) patients with LIS 1.0-1.4 points; PRISM 10-19 points. A transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) combined with ultrasound cardiac output monitoring (USCOM) was used. The myocardial performance indices (MPI RV/LV), pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance (PVR; SVR), cardiac index (CI RV/LV) and other parameters were collated one hour after initiation of therapy (time-1) and after 48 hours of treatment (time-2) for statistical evaluation. All the data were compared within groups and between groups using the distribution-free Wilcoxon’s and two-way ANOVA tests. Results: A total of 232 TTE and USCOM examinations were performed. At time-1 higher median values of MPI RV (0.32, SD 0.01 vs. 0.21, SD 0.01; p Conclusion: The RSV infection was complicated by the adverse change of pulmonary haemodynamics. Right ventricular afterload increased, depending on the duration of hypoventilation. Haemodynamic monitoring provides valuable real-time information to improve efficiency of therapy.