title: Comparison of transthoracic versus transesophageal echocardiography for detection of right-to-left atrial shunting using agitated saline contrast.
abstract: Agitated saline contrast studies (bubble studies) can be performed with either transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography for the detection of right-to-left atrial shunts. The echocardiograms of 94 consecutive patients who underwent saline contrast studies with transthoracic and transesophageal approaches were reviewed to compare the ability of these modalities to detect right-to-left atrial shunts.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. harit@im.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Srihari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thanigaraj
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valika
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zajarias
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lasala
authors.forename: Julio E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D045423:Microbubbles; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012965:Sodium Chloride
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D012965:Sodium Chloride