Research

Aortic obstruction: anatomy and echocardiography

Nilda Espinola-Zavaleta¹ , Luis Muñoz-Castellanos² , Magdalena Kuri-Nivon³ and Candace Keirns¹

¹  Echocardiography in Out Patient's Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez" Juan Badiano N° 1, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico

²  Department of Embryology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez". Juan Badiano N° 1, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico

³  Morphology Department, Escuela Superior de Medicina-IPN. Diaz-Mirón y Plan de San Luis, Colonia Casco de Santo Tomás, Tacuba, Mexico City, Mexico

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Cardiovascular Ultrasound 2006, 4:36doi:10.1186/1476-7120-4-36

Published:	29 September 2006

Abstract

Echocardiography is a valuable non-invasive technique for identifying the site and type of aortic obstruction. Knowledge of the morphological details of each type of obstruction is the basis for correct interpretation of the diagnostic images and clinical decisions. This study was undertaken to correlate the echocardiographic images with anatomic specimens of equivalent valvular and supravalvular aortic obstruction. Specimens were part of the collection of the Department of Embryology. Fifty six patients were studied, and forty specimens with aortic obstruction were analyzed.

Echocardiographic characteristics: Thirty one (55.3%) patients were women and twenty five (44.7%) men. Valvular aortic obstruction was found in Thirty six patients (64.3 %) and supravalvular aortic obstruction in twenty (35.7%). Anatomic characteristics: Of the forty specimens examined, twenty one (52.5%) had valvular aortic obstruction and nineteen (47.5%) supravalvular aortic obstruction.

The anatomoechocardiographic correlation clearly showed that the anatomic findings of the specimen hearts and aortas corresponded to echocardiographic images of valvular and supravalvular aortic obstruction and provided solid corroboration of echocardiographic diagnoses.