Echocardiographic diagnosis of congenital left ventricular - right atrial communication

2 patients, aged 8 mth and 48 yr, referred for a clinical diagnosis of ventricular septal defect, were studied by ultrasound. In both a fluttering and an anterior bowing of the systolic segment of the tricuspid valve was found, consistent with a left ventricular--right atrial communication. Diagnosis was confirmed by angiography and open-heart surgery, showing in 1 patient a supravalvular defect, and an infravalvular one in the other. The postoperative echocardiograms of the tricuspid valve were normal. Ultrasound appears to be a safe and simple method in detecting this rare cardiac abnormality.