Frequency of circumferential pericardial effusion by echocardiography in adults with foramen ovale type atrial septal defect versus ventricular septal defect.

Many published reports have described pericardial effusions in patients with secundum atrial septal defects. This study investigated their associated prevalence echocardiographically using 40 patients with isolated ventricular septal defects as controls in an adult patient population. Pericardial effusions accompanied atrial septal defects in 13 patients and ventricular septal defects in only 3 patients (p <0.

Interatrial block: pandemic prevalence concealed by anachronistic electrocardiographic standards.

Background: Interatrial block (IAB; P waves 2 > or =110 ms duration) has been reported in over 40% of unselected patients in sinus rhythm at widely separated general hospitals. It is thus of "pandemic" proportions. It should be better appreciated because it represents a large, baggy, poorly functional left atrium and is a forerunner of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and other arrhythmias.