Observations on the Interatrial Pressure Gradients in Man

Abstract

It was possible to calculate pressure gradients across the interatrial septum in several cases of congenital heart disease. Gradients in cases of interatrial septal defect are similar to those found in animals with artificially produced defects. The data are used to form a rounded picture of the hemodynamics of interatrial septal defect. In pulmonic stenosis with interatrial communication, reversal of the usual left-to-right gradient may occur only during atrial systole. Under these circumstances it is often possible to distinguish a patent foramen ovale with competent valve from an interatrial septal defect.

Effect of Valsalva Maneuver on Oxygen Saturation in Patients with Intracardiac Shunts

“…In 7 of 9 cases this decrease was interrupted by a temporary return toward the control value followed by a second more pronounced decrease to lower saturation levels (figs. 2 A significant increase iii the saturation of right atrial blood was not observed during the Valsalva maneuver in the 2 patients with ventricular septal defect in whom this was recorded.…”

Effect of age on pressure-flow dynamics in secundum atrial septal defect.

“…Galve et al confirm that a right to left shunt occurs in an appreciable number of patients (15%),10 an observation first described as "cyanose tardive" by Bard and Curtillet in 1889,12 and subsequently demonstrated by peripheral'3 or central4679 [14][15][16] oximetry, angiocardiography,17 18 or by dye dilution,'5 17 fibreoptic catheter,'9 or echocar-diographic20 and intracardiac Doppler2l techniques. The reported incidence of right to left shunting varies from 14%22 to 1000/o.17 Galve et al show that this phenomenon is not associated with increased right atrial, right ventricular, or pulmonary artery pressures.…”