[Echocardiography for the evaluation of tricuspid atresia. I. Morphological analysis (author's transl)]

Twenty-five patients with tricuspid atresia, ranging in age between 3 months and 23 years, were studied by M-mode and two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. In all of them diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography and in most of them at surgery or autopsy. Some anatomical specimens of tricuspid atresia were analyzed in order to be correlated with corresponding two-dimensional pictures. Contrast 2D echocardiography was performed in 12 of 25 patients. M-mode scanning right atrium-left ventricle showed a rudimentary echo coming from the atretic valve but didn't show its relations with the membranous portion of ventricular septum. 2D echocardiography in (two chambers) or (four chambers) view was particularly useful to distinguish tricuspid atresia from other hypoplastic right heart syndromes with functioning tricuspid valve. Peripheral contrast injection enhances diagnostic capability of 2D echocardiography, especially for the assessment of right ventricular dimensions, differentiation between atretic and imperforate valve and evaluation of ventricular septal defect.