Diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus in adults by biplane transesophageal color Doppler flow mapping

Abstract

In infants and children, direct visualization of patent ductus arteriosus and shunt flow is often successful using transthoracic 2-dimensional 1 and color Doppler echocardiography. 2 In adults, however, transthoracic echocardiography may fail to yield diagnostic information on patent ductus arteriosus because the ductus is located far from the transducer on the chest wall. 3 Since the recent development of a transesophageal transducer with the capabilities of color-coded Doppler flow imaging, both single- and biplane transesophageal echocardiography have been extensively used in the assessment of patients with cardiovascular diseases. 4–8 Transesophageal approach affords consistent high-quality 2-dimensional images of the arch and descending aorta without being restricted by lung tissue or ribs. This study evaluates the diagnostic usefulness of transthoracic and biplane transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography in adolescent and adult patients with patent ductus arteriosus.