Noninvasive quantitative evaluation of the morphology of the major pulmonary artery branches in cyanotic congenital heart disease. Angiocardiographic and echocardiographic correlative study.

Abstract
BACKGROUNDPrecise noninvasive evaluation of pulmonary artery (PA) morphology is extremely important for medical and surgical management of patients with cyanotic heart disease. In this study, the accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography combined with color Doppler flow mapping to assess the size, stenosis, and atresia of the major PA branches was examined using a new parasternal approach.METHODS AND RESULTSWith the use of right and left high parasternal windows, we visualized each of the major portions along the right (R-PA) and left (L-PA) pulmonary arteries in 45 of the 47 examinations (96%) in 38 patients with cyanotic heart disease. The patients were between 13 days and 20 years old (mean age, 2.9 years). The internal diameters of the major PA branches were measured at three points along the R-PA (the proximal, mid, and distal portions) and at the proximal and distal portions on the L-PA in systole by both two-dimensional echocardiography and angiography. In addition, the diameter of the stenosis ...

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