Evaluation of Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Using Cardiac Catheterization

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Abstract
Nine [human] infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia underwent cardiac catheterization to define their circulatory status. In room air, the mean cardiac index was normal (3.4 l/min per m2), but pulmonary arterial pressure (39 mm Hg, mean) and pulmonary vascular resistance (8.6 Wood units .cntdot. m2) were elevated. Preejection period/right ventricular ejection time ratios determined echocardiographically correlated well with values obtained at catheterization but did not correlate well with hemodynamic values. Administration of 40 and 88% O2 caused variable responses in hemodynamic measurements. Studies of left ventricular function were normal in all patients. These findings raise questions about the long-term prognosis of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.