Influence of feeding on the left ventricular mechanics in children born with low and extremely low body weight

The aim of the study was to evaluate the types of left ventricular (LV) rotation depending on the nature of feeding during the first year of life in oneto five-year-old children born with very low and extremely low body weight.Material and Methods. The study included 88 children aged one to five years, born deeply premature with very low and extremely low body weight. The comparison group consisted of 46 healthy children of the same age, born full-term. TheLV mechanics was studied based on the assessment ofLV rotation at the levels of the mitral valve, papillary muscles, and apex andLV twist using two-dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle-tracking strain imaging.Results. Differences between the types ofLV twist and the nature of feeding during the first year of life in oneto five-year-old children born with very low and extremely low body weight were identified. In children with natural feeding, the first (“adult”) type ofLV twist was registered in 75% of cases; the fourth type ofLV twist was detected in 12.5% of cases. In children with bottle-feeding during the first year of life, the “adult” type ofLV twist was registered in 34.38% of cases; fourth type ofLV twist was detected in 40.63% of children born deeply premature. In children with mixed feeding during the first year of life, the ratio ofLV twist types was as follows: 40.63% of patients had the first “adult” type; “child” types were present in 18.75% and 18.75% of children, respectively; fourth type of twist was detected in 21.88%.