M - Mode Echocardiographic Experience in Congenital Heart Disease at NICVD

Material/and/Methods: Two hundred and flinty one patients with various congenital cardiac malformations were studied by single crystal M-mode echocardiography. The age ranged between 10 Days toyears. Echocardiographic examination was done in supine position without sedation in older children and with chloryl hydras sedation in infants. The pre ejction period of the pulmonic valve was measured between the Q wave of the Electrocardiogram and the opening point of the pulmonic valve echo. The ejction period was measured between openings to the closure point of the Pulmonic valve echo. The result was expressed as PEP/ET ratio (8) (Fig. 4) Right ve1nricular end diastolic dimensions were measured at the same time and site as the left veatricle. Result: One hundred and eighty eight patients had acyanotic lesions (Table I). Largest number of patients (75/188). had ventricular septal defect (VSD). Qualitatative diagnosis of V.S.D. was based on. 1) Increased dimension of the left atrium and left ventricle, and 2) exagg erated motion of the left ventricular posterior and septal walls Fig 5. Discussion: Qualitative as well as quantitative M-mode echocardiography has truc1y revolutionized the capability to diagnose congenital cardiac malformations. In acyanotic lesions, imaging of the atrial OR ventricular septal defect or  patent ductus arteriosus is not possible using single crystal M-mode method. However the site of shunt can he detected.     The characteristic features of these lesions have been reported. In conclusion our study demonstrates that ‘t—mode echocardiography is valuable in the diagnosis and management of both cyacotic and acyanct ic forms of congenia1 cardiac malformations.