Echocardiological contrast studies with dynamically focussed multiscan

Bidimensional contrast echocardiological examinations were carried out in 120 patients with the use of dynamically focussed multiscan. Ultrasonic contrast was produced by a push injection of 10 ml of isotonic saline or of 5% glucose in water injected into an antecubital vein through an 18 gauge needle. Contrast studies were observed on a television monitor and recorded on videotape for detailed off-line analysis. All the echocardiological diagnoses presented here were confirmed during catheterization. A few typical clinical examples are illustrated, including a patient with Ebstein's anomaly, a case of tricuspid regurgitation, atrial and ventricular septal defects, and a left ventricular ultrasound angiocardiogram. Bidimensional contrast echocardiology opens a new field for the assessment of remediable cardiac lesions.