Atrial septal defect echocardiography

Atrial Septal Defect Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Anatomy
Classification
Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect
Ostium Primum Atrial Septal Defect
Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect
Coronary Sinus
Patent Foramen Ovale
Common or Single Atrium
Pathophysiology
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History and Prognosis
Complications
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Electrocardiogram
Chest X Ray
CT
MRI
Echocardiography
Transesophageal Echocardiography
Transthoracic Echocardiography
Contrast Echocardiography
M-Mode
Doppler
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound
Cardiac Catheterization
Exercise Testing
ACC/AHA Guidelines for Evaluation of Unoperated Patients
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Indications for Surgical Repair
Surgical Closure
Minimally Invasive Repair
Robotic ASD Repair
Percutaneous Closure
Post-Surgical Follow Up
Special Scenarios
Pregnancy
Diving and Decompression Sickness
Paradoxical Emboli
Pulmonary Hypertension
Eisenmenger's Syndrome
Atmospheric Pressure
Case Studies
Case #1
Atrial septal defect echocardiography On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Atrial septal defect echocardiography All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Atrial septal defect echocardiography
CDC on Atrial septal defect echocardiography
Atrial septal defect echocardiography in the news
Blogs on Atrial septal defect echocardiography
Directions to Hospitals Treating Type page name here
Risk calculators and risk factors for Atrial septal defect echocardiography

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Claudia Hochberg, M.D.

Associate Editors-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]; Keri Shafer, M.D. [3]; Priyamvada Singh, MBBS [[4]]

Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [[5]]

Overview

Echocardiography may be used as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of an atrial septal defect. As an evaluative tool, echocardiograms can identify functionality issues within the heart's anatomy. The function of echocardiography in identifying atrial septal defect is to: locate the defects, identify the direction of shunting, identify associated anomalies, evaluate atrial and ventricular enlargement. In general, an atrial septal defect patient will present symptomatic evidence of blood flow disruptions between the left and right atriums.

Echocardiography

In transthoracic echocardiography, an atrial septal defect may be seen on color flow imaging as a jet of blood from the left atrium to the right atrium.

If agitated saline is injected into a peripheral vein during echocardiography, small air bubbles can be seen on echocardiographic imaging. It may be possible to see bubbles travel across an atrial septal defect either at rest or during a cough. (Bubbles will only flow from right atrium to left atrium if the RA pressure is greater than LA). As better visualization of the atria is achieved with transesophageal echocardiography, this test may be performed in individuals with a suspected atrial septal defect which is not visualized on transthoracic imaging.

Newer techniques to visualize these defects involve intracardiac imaging with special catheters that are typically placed in the venous system and advanced to the level of the heart. This type of imaging is becoming more common and involves only mild sedation for the patient typically.

If the individual has adequate echocardiographic windows, it is possible to use the echocardiogram to measure the cardiac output of the left ventricle and the right ventricle independently. In this way, it is possible to estimate the shunt fraction using echocardiography.

Specific Techniques for ASD

Techniques in specific defects: Ostium primum | Ostium secundum | Sinus venosus | Coronary sinus