The Diagnosis of Ebstein's Disease of the Heart

Abstract

Abstract. On the basis of 20 patients from our departments a review is given of the clinical, electrocardiographic, radiological and haemodynamic features of Ebstein's disease. The clinical spectrum is very broad, and the presence or absence of cyanosis is essential in the estimation of the severity of the disease, the cyanotic cases usually being diagnosed in childhood. Dyspnoea on exertion, malar flush, palpitations and precordial pains are the most consistent symptoms. The diagnosis is possible on clinical grounds in the typical cases with the combination of a systolic and a diastolic murmur together with an audible third heart sound, with right bundle branch block, tall P waves, and with considerable enlargement of the right side of the heart on the roentgenogram. In less severe cases right heart catheterization and angiocardiography are needed for confirmation of the diagnosis.