Structural Measurements and Adjustments for Growth

Quantitative assessment of the size of cardiovascular structures is a powerful tool that has become an essential aspect of the echocardiographic exam. Clinical use of these measurements requires an understanding of how they relate to normal values as well as their pathophysiologic and prognostic significance. Although adjustment for body size and cardiac output is universally important, it has its greatest impact in children because of the need for longitudinal assessment during somatic growth. There is a large literature devoted to cardiovascular allometry, which refers to the study or measurement of the size of the cardiovascular system in relation to the entire organism. This chapter reviews the theoretical and technical aspects of cardiovascular allometry and its importance to echocardiography.