[A study of aortic regurgitation with conal ventricular septal defect by means of pulsed Doppler echocardiography].

Ten youngsters with conal ventricular septal defect (VSD) and aortic regurgitation (AR) were studied by pulsed Doppler echocardiography (PDE). The ATL pulsed Doppler echocardiogram system combined with Toshiba SSH-11A cross-sectional echocardiographic system was used. The diagnostic findings of PDE for conal VSD was a systolic turbulent flow in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and the conus septum which was just in front of the aortic valve. The diagnosis of AR was obtained by a diastolic turbulent flow in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and an away flow in the ascending aorta which was recorded from the suprasternal notch. After confirmation of the diagnosis of conal VSD with AR by cardiac catheterization and angiography, operations were performed in all 10 cases. In 9 cases PDE revealed the systolic turbulent flow in the RVOT which cone through conal VSD. The systolic turbulent flow in the conus septum was detected in 5 cases. The diastolic turbulent flow in the LVOT due to AR was detected in all 5 cases of mild AR (1 degrees by Sellers). In all cases, the diastolic turbulent flow in the LVOT was detected near the anterior mitral leaflet. This localization of the diastolic turbulent flow may be due to the prolapse of the right coronary cusp. Spread of the diastolic turbulent flow in the LVOT could document the degree of AR. In 2 cases, PDE was recorded in the ascending aorta from the suprasternal notch. The diastolic away flow due to AR was observed in both cases. In conclusion, PDE is useful and non-invasive method for the diagnosis of conal VSD with AR.