Defects in the interatrial septum as well as abnormalities in the pulmonary vascular
bed may result in a right to left shunt. Patent foramen ovale can be responsible for
cryptogenic stroke in young patients.
1
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,
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A possible cause of unexplained hypoxemia is the presence of abnormal arteriovenous
communications in the pulmonary circulation.
4
Contrast echocardiography has been shown to be effective in detecting right to left
shunts.
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,
2
,
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,
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,
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,
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Because transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides more accurate diagnostic
information on posterior localized structures of the heart than transthoracic echocardiography
(TTE), this technique combined with color Doppler or contrast administration is now
considered as the method of choice in the diagnosis of patent foramen ovale.
3
,
7
,
8
,
9
,
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,
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,
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Recently, second harmonic imaging was developed to visualize first- and second-generation
contrast agents more selectively than the surrounding tissue.
13
Harmonic imaging without the use of contrast also enhances the differentiation between
the blood pool in the left ventricle and the surrounding tissue due to the partial
clearing of artifacts as reverberations.
14
,
15
,
16
We tested the hypothesis that second harmonic imaging during TTE is as accurate as
TEE for detecting right to left shunts in a nonselected population using a simple
saline-agitated solution.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 16, 2004
Accepted:
June 16,
2000
Received in revised form:
June 16,
2000
Received:
April 13,
2000
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Excerpta Medica Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
