title: The echocardiographer and the diagnosis of patent foramen ovale.
abstract: PFO is diagnosed by echocardiography using the combination of transthoracic two-dimensional imaging of the interatrial septum, followed by color and spectral Doppler (and if necessary saline contrast) imaging. Transesophageal imaging is an important adjunct when transthoracic imaging is not conclusive or yields suboptimal images.Three-dimensional echocardiography is useful for defining fenestrations within a PFO.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, 1959 Pacific Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. eagill@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Quaife
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media