Diagnosis of Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection with Intact Interatrial Septum by Echocardiography

Identification of unusual conditions after atrial septal defect repair by systematic transthoracic echocardiographic assessment

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of echocardiographic studies to address the detection of atrial masses and abnormal venous connections in patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) repair. This study sought to demonstrate that with proper technique, these unusual conditions could be diagnosed confidently by transthoracic echocardiography.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective review of all repaired ASD patients of all ages with follow-up echocardiography done at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from year 1999 to 2005. Clinical and echocardiographic features of patients with aforementioned conditions were evaluated.

RESULTS

Systematic echocardiographic protocol identified 11 patients with unusual conditions, in whom four patients had atrial masses (three atrial thrombi, one inflammatory pseudotumor) and seven patients had abnormal venous connections (two inadvertent diversion of inferior vena cava to left atrium, five previously unrecognized partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections).

CONCLUSION

Atrial masses and abnormal venous connections could be diagnosed through a systematic echocardiographic approach in evaluating patients with ASD repair.