Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 1991
Intracardiac two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade.
The utility of intracardiac two-dimensional echocardiography in the identification of pericardial effusion was assessed in five patients with pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade. A 20 MHz, mechanically rotating ultrasound catheter was used for intracardiac imaging. In all five patients, intracardiac echocardiography yielded high resolution of images of the right atrial cavity, the right atrial wall, and the pericardial effusion. ⋯ After pericardiocentesis, the reduction in the size of the effusion and increase in the right atrial cavity size could be recognized by intracardiac echocardiography. The introduction and manipulation of the ultrasound catheter was easily performed without any complications. This experience presents one clinical application for intracardiac echocardiography and indicates its potential value in the invasive cardiac laboratory.
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 1991
Comparative StudyComparison of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography to epicardial imaging in children undergoing ventricular septal defect repair.
Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was compared with epicardial echocardiography after ventricular septal defect repair. This comparison was made in 18 children aged 7 to 137 months (median, 32 months), weighing 6.3 to 49.1 kg (median, 10.8 kg) from November 1989 to January 1991. Ventricular septal defect types were perimembranous (six), malalignment (seven), supracristal (three), midmuscular (one), and inlet (one). ⋯ The missed defects were different with each technique and were confirmed by postoperative surface echocardiography. No residual defects of sufficient size to require reoperation were found as determined by combination color flow jet analysis and intraoperative oximetry (no pulmonary to systemic flow ratio was greater than 1.50). Patches caused two-dimensional and Doppler signal masking, but this was not limiting because all residual defects were found at the margins of the ventricular septal defect patch.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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J Am Soc Echocardiogr · Nov 1991
Case ReportsTransesophageal echocardiographic guidance of balloon atrial septostomy.
Two newborn infants with transposition of the great vessels and an intact ventricular septum were cyanotic when they underwent bedside balloon atrial septostomy in the neonatal intensive care unit. The procedure was conducted under direct transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiographic guidance. ⋯ Transesophageal echocardiography has several advantages over transthoracic echocardiography in aiding this procedure. It provides an optimal view of the atrial septum, while keeping the chest exposed for observation of respiratory effort and for improved thermoregulation.