title: Echo contrast-enhanced diagnosis of atrial septal defect.
abstract: Pulsed wave, continuous wave, and color flow Doppler imaging as well as intravenously administered agitated saline solution can detect intracardiac shunts during transthoracic echocardiography. Ultrasonographic contrast agents have greatly improved the visualization of left heart chambers and can enhance signals from blood flow within chambers and across valves, increasing the sensitivity of Doppler techniques. We describe a patient in whom the use of echo contrast media during transthoracic echocardiography allowed the detection of a previously unseen atrial septal defect. Combining such modalities may help to increase the sensitivity of transthoracic echocardiography and may eliminate the need for transesophageal echocardiography in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Non-Invasive Cardiology Laboratories, New York University Medical Center, New York, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nayar
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Varkey
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kronzon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; D004452:Echocardiography; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media; C099458:FS 069; D005466:Fluorocarbons