Anatomical-echocardiographic correlations in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Use of subcostal cross-sectional views.
Cross-sectional echocardiographic images from 26 patients presenting pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum were compared with anatomical findings in specimens having the same anomaly. The echocardiographic study was based on a subcostal approach using oblique projections, and specimens were cut in the same planes. Patients were classified into three groups. In the first group the morphologically right ventricle was represented by all of its three component parts: inlet, trabecular and outlet (12 cases). The second group was made up of patients with overgrowth of the apical component. Consequently the right ventricle had only two effective components: inlet and outlet (6 cases). In the third group, muscular overgrowth of both outlet and apical portions meant that the right ventricle was represented only by an inlet portion (8 cases). The good morphologic assessment and correlation with anatomic cuts, obtained in particular by using the "right oblique equivalent" view can avoid invasive study in this malformation prior to palliative surgery.
D000790:Angiocardiography; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology