Atrial septal defect echocardiography

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

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 ASD 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).

Ultrasound picture of the heart, seen in a subcostal view. The apex towards the right, atria to the left. ASD secundum seen as a discontinuation of the white band of the atrial septum. Enlarged right atrium below. Enlarged pulmonary veins seen entering left atrium above. (Image courtesy of Kjetil Lenes)

See Echo in Atrial Septal Defect for more info/images

Because better visualization of the atria is achieved with transesophageal echocardiography, this test may be performed in individuals with a suspected ASD 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.

• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A

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• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A2

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• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A3

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• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A4

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• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A5

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• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A6

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• Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs) Rastelli Type A7

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