Echocardiography in Planning Aortic Arch Interventions

Abstract

Aortic arch anomalies are suspected on echocardiography, though the final diagnosis may need additional investigative modalities such as cardiac catheterization, computed tomography angiography or rarely magnetic resonance imaging. Most of the interevntions are however planned on the basis of echocardiography. Suprasternal and subcoastal views are particularly important for evaluation, although other indirect parameters such as pressure effects (ventricular hypertrophy) and ventricular dysfunction etc. may serve as indirect markers of the arch lesion. This review provides an overview of the role of echocardiography in planning aortic arch interventions.

Keywords

• arch anomalies
• arch interruption
• coarctation
• echocardiography