Systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle was assessed in 45 children with ventricular septal defect at 2 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery.
In children with ventricular septal defect we found an increase in the velocity of early and late diastolic flow waves with maintained normal ratio of these waves. It suggests increased left ventricular volume load.In early postoperative period ECG revealed a small, residual ventricular septal shunt and impaired systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle in 10 children. At 6 months following the surgical correction we noted a complete closure of the ventricular septal defect and normal systolic function. Diastolic function, however, was not fully normalised yet. A year after the surgery the normal function of the left ventricle was restored.

Keywords: ventricular septal defect, Ventricular Function, electrocardiographic assessment