Causes of left ventricular enlargement

The human body has many diseases and changes. Some changes are not inevitable. They occur due to certain reasons. For example, some conditions will occur in the left ventricle, including changes in the widening of the left ventricle. There are many reasons for this situation, but most people have not paid attention to it. They think this is normal. So what is the reason for the widening of the left ventricle?

Lateral ventricle broadening is an ultrasound sign of the width of the fetal lateral ventricle body measured during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The measurement of lateral ventricle width is a standard method for prenatal ultrasound examination to determine the degree of fetal neurological diseases and lesions. The normal width of the lateral ventricle body is ≤10mm, with an average of 7mm. A lateral ventricle width greater than 10mm is called ventriculomegaly. For children with combined structural abnormalities in other parts of the body or chromosomal abnormalities, it is not recommended to continue the pregnancy.

Most of them are caused by excessive fetal cerebrospinal fluid and abnormalities of the central nervous system such as abnormal development of the midline brain structure or local space occupying space. It can also be an intracranial manifestation of abnormalities in other systems of the body, such as chromosomal abnormalities, viral infections, etc. The fetus produces about 650 ml of cerebrospinal fluid every day. Various reasons lead to an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system, and circulatory disorders can cause increased pressure in the ventricular system. The main causes include autosomal recessive gene and X-chromosome recessive gene abnormalities, cerebrospinal fluid circulation pathway disorders, viral infections and other reasons. Cerebral aqueduct stenosis is the most common cause.

For children with combined structural abnormalities in other parts of the body or chromosomal abnormalities, it is not recommended to continue the pregnancy. After birth, a fetus with simple lateral ventriculomegaly should be examined again as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis and find the cause. If there is still obvious ventriculomegaly, drainage surgery (ventriculoperitoneal drainage) should be performed in pediatric surgery as soon as possible. In infants with isolated ventriculomegaly, 90% have normal neurodevelopment. Their intellectual development is related to the early or late drainage surgery. 10% of children may have epilepsy, motor function or intellectual impairment. Fetuses with asymmetric ventriculomegaly, severe lateral ventriculomegaly, and progressive ventriculomegaly have poor long-term neurological development.