OBJECTIVE To examine the possible role of Doppler ultrasound assessment of ductus venosus blood flow in screening for major cardiac defects in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) thickness at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks' gestation. METHODS Ductus venosus blood flow velocity waveforms were obtained immediately before chorionic villus sampling for fetal karyotyping i...

We evaluated the circulation of the liver and ductus venosus, using the radionuclide-labeled mkrosphere technique, in 24 chronically prepared fetal lambs. We placed catheters in fetal descending aorta and inferior vena cava, and hi a carotid artery and an umbilical vein; in 11 fetuses, we aho Inserted a catheter hi a mesenteric vein that drained into the portal vein. After allowing 2-4 days for...

Scope of the Problem The population of children and adults who have undergone successful palliation of various forms of congenital heart disease (CHD) continues to increase and live longer. The reasons are multiple, and include expanded indications, early, more definitive surgery and other interventional techniques, and improved surgical, interventional, catheterization, electrophysiological, a...

Four cases of congenital defect of the pericardium are described; three had complete absence of the left pericardium and one had a partial defect. One of the patients developed acute pulmonary oedema in the immediate post-operative period following repair of a sinus venosus defect. This complication was thought to be directly related to the pericardial defect. The functions of the pericardium a...

A 24 yr old white female presented with dyspnoea, orthopnoea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, cough and fatigue. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD). Right heart catheterization confirmed severe pulmonary hypertension (80/37 mmHg). A chest radiograph showed enlarged pulmonary arteries with peripheral pruning. Surgical repair of the ASD and lung biop...

Cross-sectional echocardiography, combined with injections of contrast into peripheral arm veins, has been used to study 15 patients with atrial septal defects and 10 patients with an intact interatrial septum. Of 11 patients with ostium secundum or sinus venosus atrial septal defects and left-to-right shunts a defect could be visualised in all, and in eight some degree of transfer of contrast ...