title: [Separation of the left atrium from the right pulmonary artery in the suprasternal echocardiogram: a parameter of left atrial pressure].
abstract: A separation of the left atrium from the right pulmonary artery during atrial contraction may be observed in the suprasternal echocardiogram. In 280 catheterized patients with sinus rhythm, we investigated whether left atrial separation is a parameter from which an estimate of the left atrial pressure can be obtained. In 239 of the 280 patients, the suprasternal echograms were of a quality such that it could be seen whether there was, a left atrial separation. In 182 patients, a normal left atrial pressure (greater than or equal to 12 mm Hg) was found; in 57 patients, the left atrial pressure was elevated. An atrial separation was observed in 183 patients, and in 56 patients it was lacking. Lack of left atrial separation indicates a left atrial pressure elevation with a sensitivity of 73.7% and a specificity of 92.3%. If a left atrial pressure above 18 mm Hg was considered elevated, the sensitivity of this echoparameter amounted to 90.3%, and the specificity was 86.5%. The study shows that the left atrial separation from the right pulmonary artery separation from the right pulmonary artery in the suprasternal echocardiogram is a parameter valuable in providing a rough estimate of the left atrial pressure.
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*
vernacular_title: Die Separation des linken Vorhofs von der rechten Pulmonalarterie im suprasternalen Echokardiogramm: ein Parameter des linksatrialen Druckes.