Patency of the ductus arteriosus in normal neonates: Two-dimensional echocardiography versus doppler assessment

James C. Huhta, Mark Cohen, Howard P. Gutgesell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two-dimensional echocardiography using a high resolution, 7.5 MHz transducer was compared with Doppler echocardiography for the assessment of patency of the ductus arteriosus in normal newborn infants. Twenty-eight neonates were studied between 1 and 10 hours (mean 5.5) after birth and both examinations were possible in 27 (96%). Doppler echocardiography under two-dimensional direction indicated ductal patency in all 27 neonates. Doppler sampling in the pulmonary end of the ductus rather than the main pulmonary artery was more sensitive for detecting patency. When two-dimensional echocardiography only was used to predict patency, there was 85% sensitivity. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed no evidence of ductus arteriosus narrowing in four neonates studied shortly after birth. In 18, the pulmonary portion of the ductus arteriosus appeared narrowed and in 8 of these, the narrowing extended toward the mid-portion of the ductus. In five others, there was only mid-ductus arteriosus narrowing. It is concluded that high resolution two-dimensional echocardiography can be used to assess ductus arteriosus morphology, but is limited in predicting ductal patency near the time of normal physiologic closure. Combined two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography is a highly sensitive technique for detection of ductal patency when sampling is performed in the pulmonary end of the ductus arteriosus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)561-564
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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