The Parasternal Short-Axis View Improves Diagnostic Accuracy for Inferior Sinus Venosus Type of Atrial Septal Defects by Transthoracic Echocardiography.

Background: Sinus venosus defects (SVD) of the inferior vena cava (IVC) type, or inferior SVDs, are an uncommon form of atrial communication located outside the confines of the fossa ovalis and involve override of the IVC. Despite numerous studies describing the anatomical and echocardiographic features of the inferior SVD, distinguishing this defect from a large secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) by echocardiography is often challenging. Accurate diagnosis of an inferior SVD and correct differentiation from a secundum ASD is essential for appropriate presurgical planning.

Atrioventricular valve morphology and dynamics in congenital heart disease as imaged with real-time 3-dimensional matrix-array echocardiography: comparison with 2-dimensional imaging and surgical findings.

Objective: We sought to describe our initial experience with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic (RT3DE) imaging of atrioventricular valve (AVV) anomalies in pediatric patients to resolve a specific morphologic or dynamic detail, which, although suggested, could not be well resolved during the conventional 2-dimensional (2D)/Doppler examination.

Methods: In all, 41 patients (age range 1 day-24 years) with different AVV anomalies underwent RT3DE as part of their comprehensive echocardiographic assessment. Matrix-array transducers with a frequency range of 1 to 4 MHz were used.

Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic imaging of congenital heart disease using matrix-array technology: freehand real-time scanning adds instant morphologic details not well delineated by conventional 2-dimensional imaging.

Objective: We sought to investigate whether real-time (RT) 3-dimensional echocardiography (RT3D) using matrix-array technology could resolve a specific morphologic detail that could not be well resolved during conventional 2-dimensional (2D)/Doppler echocardiographic imaging of congenital heart disease.

Background: Although 2D echocardiography is currently the primary imaging modality of congenital heart disease, there are still some anatomic details that cannot be well delineated by that modality.

Methods: In all, 70 patients underwent RT3D examination using matrix-array transducer.

Acute cardiovascular effects of fetal surgery in the human.

Background: Prenatal surgery for congenital anomalies can prevent fetal demise or alter the course of organ development, resulting in a more favorable condition at birth. The indications for fetal surgery continue to expand, yet little is known about the acute sequelae of fetal surgery on the human cardiovascular system.

Methods And Results: Echocardiography was used to evaluate the heart before, during, and early after fetal surgery for congenital anomalies, including repair of myelomeningocele (MMC, n=51), resection of intrathoracic masses (ITM, n=15), tracheal occlusion for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH, n=13), and resection of sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT, n=4).