[Assessment of the branches of the pulmonary artery by 2-dimensional echocardiography]

Sixty three cases of Fallot's tetralogy aged from 1 month to 30 years old, were studied by 2D echocardiography to evaluate the diameter of the pulmonary arteries and to detect stenosis of the main pulmonary arteries. The right pulmonary artery was visualised clearly enough to be measured in all 63 cases whereas the left pulmonary artery could only be adequately recorded in 58/63 cases. The junction of the two pulmonary arteries was confirmed by 2D echo in 61/63 cases; in two cases, the left pulmonary artery was not connected (2/63), confirmed at angiography and surgery. Six stenoses of the pulmonary arteries, confirmed surgically (6/7), were detected by 2D echo but there were also 3 false positive results. The pulmonary arteries were measured from suprasternal views; the values obtained ranged from 3 to 15 mm. There was a good correlation with the angiographic measurements (R = 0.81 for the right pulmonary, and R = 0.82 for the left pulmonary arteries). Good correlations were also observed between the peroperative and 2D echo measurements (R = 0.84 for the right pulmonary; R = 0.77 for the left pulmonary artery). 2D echocardiography is a non-invasive reliable technique for visualising the pulmonary arteries and their origin, for measuring the calibre of these vessels and for detecting severe proximal pulmonary artery stenosis.