[Role of bidimensional echocardiography in the study of aneurysms of a membranous septum associated with defects of the intraventricular septum of perimembranous type].

Spontaneous closure of ventricular septal defects (V.S.D.) is frequently associated with aneurysm of the membranous septum (A.M.S.). However, the presence of A.M.S. may not be always indicative of closure or diminution of the size of V.S.D.. The purpose of this paper is to present the role of two-dimensional echocardiography (2D E) in the identification and assessment of A.M.S.. The dimensions, morphology and motion of A.M.S. during the cardiac cycle was also analyzed frame by frame by the 2D E technique. 20 cases of A.M.S. associated with perimembranous V.S.D. are included in this study. The most useful echocardiographic section in the assessment of A.M.S. was the apical four-chamber view with slight cranial angulation (sensitivity = 100%). The frame-by-frame analysis of A.M.S. motion during the cardiac cycle may give useful informations concerning the hemodynamic and physiopathologic abnormalities associated with the underlying congenital heart diseases. We conclude the 2D E seems to be useful in the identification and assessment of A.M.S. associated with perimembranous V.S.D.