Estimation of patent ductus arteriosus diameters by colour Doppler echocardiography in children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether accurate estimation of the diameter of the patent ductus arteriosus can be obtained by colour Doppler echocardiography.


METHODS
The minimum and maximum diameters of the patent ductus arteriosus were measured by colour Doppler echocardiography and compared with its angiographic size.


RESULTS
We studied 40 patients, aged between 4 months and 18 years. The measured pulmonary side diameter in echocardiography was 33.6% larger than that in angiography, and the aortic side was 7.8% smaller. We found a correlation between the measurements of the minimum and maximum size of the patent ductus arteriosus (r = 48.8 and 52.6) by colour Doppler echocardiography and angiographic findings, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Colour Doppler echocardiography significantly overestimates the minimum size of the patent ductus arteriosus; therefore, reconsideration of the respective size is suggested.
Amoozgar
Hamid
H
Department of Pediatrics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. amozgah@sums.ac.ir
Soltani
Manochehr
M
Cheriki
Siros
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography