Assessment of ventricular function in infants and children : response to dobutamine infusion

A method to assess ventricular functional reserve in infants and children unable to perform dynamic exercise was evaluated. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured by radionuclide angiocardiography at rest and during infusion of dobutamine in 5-15 µg/kg/min dosages. The only side effects noted were arrhythmias in two patients, who had similar ectopy documented previously. Group left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 0.40 ± 0.21 to a maximum of 0.49 ± 0.24 (P