Detection of atrial and ventricular septum defects by transoesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography with a...

Two-dimensional (transthoracic) echocardiography (2DE) and two-dimensional endoscopic (transoesophageal) echocardiography ( 2DEE ) were performed in 19 consecutive patients with atrial septum defect (ASD), and in 17 controls, 3 with ventricular septum defect (VSD) and 14 with various diseases. In detection of ASD the sensitivity was 61% (11/18) and the specificity 88% (2/17) with 2DE whereas 2DEE revealed a sensitivity of 95% (18/19) and a specificity of 100% (0/17). 2DEE enabled to visualize the VSD in all 3 patients (2DE in 1/3). With 2DEE the site and size of the atrial septum defects could be estimated well as confirmed in 14 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. The lateral resolution of the 7.5 MHz transoesophageal probe was about 0.5 cm. Further studies are required to clarify if cardiac catheterization prior to surgery of an ASD may be replaced by 2DEE .