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Methodology of echocardiographic analysis of morphological variations of the aortic arch and its branches in children – own experience
- Source :
- Journal of Ultrasonography, Journal of Ultrasonography, Vol 19, Iss 76, Pp 24-42 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Exeley Inc., 2019.
-
Abstract
- We wish to share our experience in echocardiographic assessment of the course of the aortic arch, illustrating it with multiple examples of the majority of possible variants. The course of the aortic arch and its branches may be visualized using high parasternal and suprasternal views in sagittal and transverse planes. It is hardly ever possible to visualize the entire aortic arch on a single ultrasonographic section, particularly in the case of pathological variations. Echocardiography should be performed in a dynamic mode, as in the case of CT angiography or magnetic resonance, by gradually moving the ultrasound beam and following the position of subsequent aortic segments and branches on the screen. Due to disturbances in ultrasound propagation caused by air-containing tissues, such as the trachea, bronchi and lungs as well as bones (sternum and ribs), each evaluation of the entire arch requires the use of a higher number of echocardiographic views. The presented data show that echocardiographic detection of the main details of aortic arch anomalies is possible in practically all cases. In the case of patients considered for surgical treatment, all unresolved issues should be clarified with CT angiography or MRI, enabling 3 dimensional reconstruction of vessels and other thoracic structures. Knowledge of the main elements of an abnormal arch is crucial for proper planning of this type of examination; therefore the diagnostic process should be always initiated with echocardiography. Echocardiography is often sufficient to answer all clinical questions and finalize the diagnostic process. We wish to share our experience in echocardiographic assessment of the course of the aortic arch, illustrating it with multiple examples of the majority of possible variants. The course of the aortic arch and its branches may be visualized using high parasternal and suprasternal views in sagittal and transverse planes. It is hardly ever possible to visualize the entire aortic arch on a single ultrasonographic section, particularly in the case of pathological variations. Echocardiography should be performed in a dynamic mode, as in the case of CT angiography or magnetic resonance, by gradually moving the ultrasound beam and following the position of subsequent aortic segments and branches on the screen. Due to disturbances in ultrasound propagation caused by air-containing tissues, such as the trachea, bronchi and lungs as well as bones (sternum and ribs), each evaluation of the entire arch requires the use of a higher number of echocardiographic views. The presented data show that echocardiographic detection of the main details of aortic arch anomalies is possible in practically all cases. In the case of patients considered for surgical treatment, all unresolved issues should be clarified with CT angiography or MRI, enabling 3 dimensional reconstruction of vessels and other thoracic structures. Knowledge of the main elements of an abnormal arch is crucial for proper planning of this type of examination; therefore the diagnostic process should be always initiated with echocardiography. Echocardiography is often sufficient to answer all clinical questions and finalize the diagnostic process.
- Subjects :
- Aortic arch
medicine.medical_specialty
lcsh:Medical technology
Sternum
030204 cardiovascular system & hematology
030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
medicine.artery
medicine
echocardiography
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Arch
right-sided aortic arch
vascular ring
aberrant subclavian artery
lcsh:R5-920
Rib cage
Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Magnetic resonance imaging
double aortic arch
Sagittal plane
medicine.anatomical_structure
lcsh:R855-855.5
Parasternal line
Angiography
Medicine
Radiology
lcsh:Medicine (General)
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2451070X and 20848404
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 76
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Ultrasonography
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....fd5f9b88bb2a9b52a44bca6e45423b93