The spectrum of left ventricular-right atrial communications in the adult: Essentials of echocardiographic assessment

Left ventricular-right atrial communication may be a congenital defect or can result from trauma, endocarditis, or valve replacement. Traditionally the preoperative diagnosis of this entity was made during cardiac catheterization, but recent advances in echocardiography, particularly color Doppler imaging, have greatly facilitated the noninvasive diagnosis of left ventricular-right atrial communication. We present four cases of left ventricular-right atrial communication, each identified by two-dimensional and color Doppler imaging. One case is a congenital defect, two were identified years after cardiac surgery, and one presents as an unusual complication of myocardial infarction. Optimal views for identifying this defect are discussed along with clues to quantifying its hemodynamic significance.