Comparison of transthoracic echocardiography with second harmonic imaging with transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of right to left shunts.
We compared the use of transthoracic echocardiography with second harmonic imaging after a peripheral intravenous injection of an agitated saline solution with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the detection of right to left shunts at the cardiac and pulmonary level. Second harmonic mode transthoracic echocardiography and TEE are equally sensitive in detecting right to left shunts in patients undergoing a daily routine TEE.
Van Camp
G
G
Department of Cardiology, AZ VUB, Brussels, Belgium. carvcpg@az.vub.ac.be
Franken
P
P
Melis
P
P
Cosyns
B
B
Schoors
D
D
Vanoverschelde
J L
JL
D016477:Artifacts; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color