Diagnostic value of pulsed Doppler echocardiography in combined heart defects.

26 patients with combined heart defects were examined by means of ultrasound methods (one-dimensional, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography). The results were compared with the results of clinical and roentgenological examinations. Taking into account literary data on high sensitivity and specificity of Doppler echocardiography, its informative value was assessed in cases when affection of two or more valves results in a balancing of haemodynamic changes. It was documented that pulsed Doppler EchoCG makes possible to assess the character and the direction of blood flow in different phases of the cardiac cycle in the heart cavities and the great vessels, and thereby provides additional information on the involvement of the valvular apparatus and on the state of haemodynamics. The sensitivity of this method is particularly high in the detection of regurgitant flow.