Detection of atrial septal defect with left-to-right shunt by inferior vena cava contrast echocardiography.

65 subjects: 37 patients with atrial septal defect and a left-to-right shunt, 18 patients with raised right atrial and ventricular pressure, and 10 normal subjects.

Two-dimensional contrast apical echocardiography assessing contrast echo effect in the inferior vena cava.

Normal subjects (n=10) and patients with raised right atrial and ventricular pressure without atrial septal defect (n=18). A subset of 20 patients was also compared to their own post-surgical correction state.

Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of contrast pattern in the inferior vena cava for diagnosing atrial septal defect.surrogate