Assessment of atrial septal defects by cross-sectional echocardiography

Abstract

In the investigation of atrial septal defects by M-mode echocardiography the features described have included dilatation of the right ventricle, reversed motion of the interventricular septum, and increased amplitude of opening motion of the tricuspid relative to the mitral valve. These criteria have been found to be lacking in sensitivity and specificity. In general it is not possible to visualize the interatrial septum directly by M-mode echocardiography although this can be done using cross-sectional echocardiography (1). With the additional use of injections of contrast the presence or absence of interatrial shunts can also be assessed (2). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of cross-sectional echocardiography combined with contrast injections into peripheral arm veins in the investigation of patients with atrial septal defects.