Retrospective research of cardiac structure and function in patients with adult scoliosis.

Objective To investigate the features of the cardiac structure and function in patients with adult seoliosis. Methods The preoperative reports of cardiac ultrasound and imaging data of 41 pa-tients with adult scoliosis were retrospectively, which included 9 males, 32 females, with the mean age of 31.29 years (range, 22-57 years). Another 35 patients with intervertebral herniation were set up control group, which included 7 males, 28 females, with the mean age of 31.17 years (range, 25-44 years). Parame-ters related to cardiac structure and function were compared according to Cobb angle in coronal plane, the number of vertebrate involved, type of radian, location of the apex vertebrate and age. Results E/A value and fractional shortening were affected by the degree of the scoliosis and the number of vertebrae involved respectively. Furthermore, diameter of arteria pulmonalis was influenced by the type of radian and location of apex vertebrate. There were significant differences in interventricular septum thickness in diastole, left ven-tricular posterior wall thickness in diastole, left ventricular internal diameter in end diastole, left ventricular internal diameter in end systole, left atrial dimension, right ventricular dimension, diameter of aortic root and diameter of arteria pulmonalis between seoliosis group and control group. Conclusion Patients with adult seoliosis have no significant abnormality in cardiac structure and function. However, spinal deformities still exert certain effect on cardiac structure and function. The main factors may consist of Cobb angle in coronal plane, the number of vertebrate involved, type of radian and location of the apex vertebrate. Key words: Adult;  Scoliosis;  Ultrasonography, doppler, color;  Heart