[Detection of right-to-left shunts by one- and twodimensional contrast echocardiography (author's transl)].

33 children with different congenital cardiac malformations--aged one day to twelve and a half years--were investigated by peripheral and central, 1- and 2 dimensional contrast echocardiography. 11 patients were studied during routinely performed cardiac catheterization and 23 in the early postoperative period (one patient pre- and postoperatively.) Contrast echocardiography peripherally performed represents a very sensitive diagnostic method to detect right-to-left shunting at atrial and/or ventricular levels. Quantification of shunts seems to be possible, if standardization can be achieved. Contrast echocardiography centrally performed can detect right-to-left shunts in residual postoperative defects, delineate and identify intra- and extracardiac structures, assess "low-output" states and should be applied in complex cardia malformations.