ABSTRACT
Since 1987, percutaneous transluminal dilatation with a balloon catheter was performed in 4 patients with subaortic diaphragm. The patients' mean age was 13 years (range 6 to 22 years). Two of them were asymptomatic and all had mild to moderate aortic valve regurgitation. In all patients two-dimensional echocardiography showed the presence of sub-aortic stenosis. Following dilatation, 2D-echocardiography showed an image of membrane floating in the left ventricular outflow tract. The left ventricular systolic pressure fell from 194 +/- 24 to 147 +/- 16 mmHg and the intraventricular systolic gradient, from 92 +/- 21 to 31 +/- 3 mmHg. There were no changes in aortic regurgitation. No complication was observed.
Subject(s)
Aortic Valve Stenosis/therapy , Catheterization , Adolescent , Adult , Aortic Valve Stenosis/congenital , Aortic Valve Stenosis/physiopathology , Child , Echocardiography , Female , Hemodynamics , Humans , MaleSubject(s)
Aortic Aneurysm/diagnosis , Aortic Dissection/diagnosis , Echocardiography , Acute Disease , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Aortic Valve Insufficiency/diagnosis , Echocardiography , Rheumatic Heart Disease/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Chronic Disease , Electrocardiography , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The authors underline the value of echocardiography in the diagnosis and postoperative management of a case of cor triatrium. The patient was a 22 year old male who presented with dyspnoea of effort (stage III of the NYHA classification) and clinical signs of an infundibulo-pulmonary syndrome with tricuspid regurgitation. Chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly (CTI = 61%) and filling-in of the aorto-pulmonary window. The electrocardiogram showed left atrial and right ventricular hypertrophy. The echocardiogram, the key to diagnosis, showed an abnormal echogenic structure within the left atrium. Cardiac catheterisation demonstrated pulmonary hypertension and a difference of pressure between the two lungs. The membrane dividing the left atrium and partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage from the left lung into the superior vena cava were visualised on late stage pulmonary angiography. Surgical excision of the membrane in the left atrium and ligation of the anomalous venous drainage provided a radical cure to all these malformations.
