[Shunt quantification in adults with atrial septal defects using the radionuclide technique]

Quantification of left to right shunt was carried out in 15 adult patients, mean age 49 years, with a suspected ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II). Radionuclide shunt quantitation correlated well with the results of right heart catheterization (r = 0.85). The radionuclide technique failed in two patients for technical reasons, but revealed no false negative or false positive results when technically satisfactory. The diagnosis was confirmed at operation. It is concluded that the radionuclide technique is a useful and reliable method which can also be used at follow-up after surgery in patients with atrial septal defects of secundum type.