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.

Usefulness of MRI in the follow-up of patients with repaired aortic coarctation and bicuspid aortic valve.

Background: The long-term outcome of repaired aortic coarctation may be complicated by dilatation of the ascending aorta notably in patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare the size of the ascending aorta in patients with bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve.

Methods: In 50 patients with a repair of aortic coarctation, the size of the ascending aorta was measured in a bicuspid aortic valve group (n=11) and a tricuspid aortic valve group (n=39).