Anotomic interaction between the aortic root and the atrial septum: a prospective echocardiographic study.
BACKGROUND
We recently demonstrated that patients with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome and an enlarged aortic root had a smaller and hypermobile atrial septum (AS) compared with those with a normal aortic root. However, this was a partly retrospective study.


METHODS
In all, 72 patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. The aortic root diameter, AS dimension, AS oscillation amplitude (ASo), and atrial pressure gradient were measured.


RESULTS
Significant correlations were found: aortic root diameter and AS dimension (r = -0.5, P < .001), aortic root diameter and ASo (r = +0.3, P = .014), AS dimension and ASo (r = -0.28, P = .02), and ASo and atrial pressure gradient (r = -0.36, P = .003). Nineteen patients presented with patent foramen ovale; those with grade 3 shunting had significantly higher mobility of the AS and larger aortic roots.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm that an increasing aortic size affects the AS by decreasing its apparent size and increasing its mobility. In case of a patent foramen ovale, increased AS mobility is associated with greater shunting.
Bertaux
Géraldine
G
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Dijon, Dijon, France.
Eicher
Jean-Christophe
JC
Petit
Annie
A
Dobsák
Petr
P
Wolf
Jean-Eric
JE
D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D001021:Aortic Valve; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording