Two-dimensional contrast and Doppler echocardiography in congenital heart disease- Diagnostic possibilities and complementary roles.

The generai aspects and newer applications of two-dimensional, contrast, and Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of congenital heart disease are reviewed. Real-time, two-dimensional (2-D) has provided a systematic approach to the diagnosis of complex cardiac abnormalities, looking at the heart in terms of separate developmental units, and permitting examination in numerous different planes. Contrast and Doppler echocardiography have allowed visualization of the blood pool and resulting flow patterns within the cardiac chambers and vessels, and provided flow information in simple and complex congenital heart defects. Structure identification, qualitative and quantitative evaluation of shunts, estimation of gradients, and assessment of pulmonary hypertension have been made available. Refinements of the techniques are currently being developed, and, in selected cases, cardiac catheterization may be obviated. Future developments certainly will improve the capabilities of echocardiography by providing a more accurate noninvasive, morpho-functional assessment of congenital heart disease.