title: Contrast echocardiography during cardiac catheterization in patients with congenital heart diseases.
abstract: Contrast echocardiography performed during cardiac catheterization has mostly been limited to a few published case reports. We studied 37 patients with congenital heart disease to assess the capability of the method to diagnose cardiac shunts and valve regurgitation. Injections of 5% dextrose in water through an angiographic catheter were made to evaluate septal integrity and valve competence compared with conventional contrast angiography. An overall sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 78% were found. In four cases of atrial septal defect and seven of mitral regurgitation, the sensitivity was 100%. It was slightly lower for eleven cases of ventricular septal defect (91%) and four of patent ductus arteriosus (75%). When assessing aortic, tricuspid and pulmonary valve competence, the method proved to be more sensitive than conventional angiography to detect mild regurgitation. Contrast echocardiography is a sensitive and safe technique that may be used in association with conventional angiography reducing the need for radiographic contrast and ionizing radiation time.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Campos Filho
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Tebexreni
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology