Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus: sensitivity, specificity, limitations, and technical features.

To determine the diagnostic features, sensitivity, and specificity of pulsed Doppler echocardiographic (PDE) diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 110 infants with heart disease were examined by PDE from the precordial and suprasternal notch approaches. On precordial examination, PDA was diagnosed upon recording of diastolic ductal flow into the pulmonary artery. From the suprasternal approach, PDA was suspected upon recording of continuous turbulent flow in the right pulmonary artery. A PDA was proved by invasive means in 45 of 110 cases. Precordial PDE had diagnosed PDA in 43 of 45 cases. In eight of 110, continuous turbulent flow was present in the pulmonary artery from the precordial approach, but no PDA jet was recorded. In two of eight, PDA was present, and in six of eight others systemic-to-pulmonic communications were present. Precordial PDE diagnosis of PDA had a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive index of 100%, and negative predictive index of 97%. From the suprasternal notch approach, PDA was suspected in 51 cases, with six false-positive diagnoses, yielding a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 91%, positive predictive index of 88%, and negative predictive index of 100%. Since the diastolic ductal jet flowing into the pulmonary artery was specific for PDA in all patients in whom it was recorded from a precordial approach, that approach and diagnostic feature, with sensitivity and positive predictive index of 100%, would seem preferred for PDE diagnosis of PDA. This would be especially important if the PDE diagnosis of PDA were to be used in place of invasive documentation of PDA, and in the differential diagnosis of PDA and other systemic-to-pulmonic communications. The suprasternal approach, while not specific for PDA, may have the advantage of sensitive detection or exclusion of a variety of systemic-to-pulmonic communications.