Abstract
Echocardtography (echo) has been used in children with ventricular septal defects (VSD) to estimate the magnitude of left to right shunt (Qp/Qs) and has been correlated with Qp/Qs measured by Fick method using assumed oxygen consumption (VO2). The purpose of this study was to compare echo determined left atrial to aortic root ratio (LA/Ao) and radionuclide angiocardiography (RN) in assessing QP/Qs. Twenty three patients were studied with echo. Nine also had RN and area-ratio analysis of the radioisotope pulmonary dilution curve. These were then compared to Fick Qp/Qs using measured VO2 We found the LA/Ao to be poorly correlated with the Qp/Qs regardless of shunt size (r=0.51). However, the RN area ratios significantly correlated to Fick Qp/Qs (r=0.93). Thus we conclude that the LA/Ao is not accurate for estimation of magnitude of left to right shunt whereas RN aren ratios provide a better method for estimating Qp/Qs.
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