Echocardiographic evaluation of left-to-right shunt in ventricular septal defect and persistent ductus arteriosus.

Abstract

Forty-five patients with either a ventricular septal defect or a persistent ductus arteriosus were assessed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation. Left atrial dimension was expressed either as a function of the body surface area (LAD cm per m2 BSA), or as a multiple of the aortic root dimension (LAD/AR), and was compared with the shunt size as determined by oximetry. A highly significant (P<0.001) regression relation was found for the group as a whole. A significant relation also existed for each individual group: ventricular septal defect, ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension, and persistent ductus arteriosus. Regression equations were derivedfor the whole group. The value of echocardiography is in separating largefrom small shunts and in adding a dimension to thefollow-up of the individual patient.

Surgical management of patent ductus arteriosus in newborn infants of low birthweights: A review of 33 cases

“…The mean left atrial (LA) dimension was measured at end-systole from the anterior edge of the posterior left atrial wall to the anterior edge of the posterior wall of the aortic root. The aortic (AO) root was measured at end-diastole from the anterior edge of the anterior aortic wall to the anterior edge of the posterior aortic wall.10 The left atrial dimension was expressed as a multiple of the aortic root dimension (LA/AO).6 7 Thirty of the 33 newborn infants developed signs of congestive heart failure. They were treated initially with digoxin and diuretics, but none responded.…”