The Gerbode defect or left ventricular to right atrial shunt assessed by transthoracic 3D echocardiography.

We report the case a 14-year-old male presented with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. 2D echocardiography showed both left ventricular to right ventricular and atrial shunt. Left and right ventricular 3D "en face" views of the defect were obtained. 3D echocardiography delineated the morphologic nature of the ventricular septal defect, its shape, and the direction in which the defect extends into the ventricular septum. Other anatomic structures such as the tricuspid valve leaflet, the right ventricular outflow tract, and the aortic valve can be displayed in their realistic spatial distribution. These findings have clinical implications when surgical repair is planned.