Echocardiographic assessment of atrial septal defects. Journal   Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) Citation   Echocardiography. 10(5):545-52 Publication date   1993 Sep Authors   Staffen RN Davidson WR Investigators   William R. Davidson, Jr. MeSH headings   Echocardiography Heart Septal Defects, Atrial MeSH qualifiers   methods ultrasonography Abstract   Echocardiography has become the method of choice for the assessment of patients with a known or suspected atrial septal defect. The majority of patients with defects can be identified by this method. In patients with inconclusive transthoracic studies, transesophageal echocardiography is useful for identification or exclusion of a defect. Echocardiography is useful for quantification of left-to-right shunting, identification of associated anomalies, and estimation of pulmonary pressure. Cardiac catheterization can be reserved for patients who require measurement of pulmonary vascular resistance, those who have a significant risk of coronary artery disease, and those with complex congenital heart disease. Medline ID   94905729