title: Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography with agitated saline injection to differentiate between atrial septal defects and echo drop-out artifacts.
abstract: The diagnosis of multiple atrial septal defects is less challenging with 3-D transesophageal echocardiography. However, the common occurrence of echo drop-out (acoustic shadow) artifacts with 3-D echocardiography can make the differentiation between a second defect and an artifact challenging. Agitated saline injection with direct visualization using 3-D echocardiography can help resolve this by allowing visualization of the bubbles crossing from true defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: aalherbi@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Aws
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alherbish
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choy
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal / Q000379:methods*; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride