Echocardiographic identification of patent ductus arteriosusContrast echocardiography (CE) was carried out in 16 newborns less than 72 hours of life weighing under 2.000 g, by inyecting 5% dextrose in water through an umbilical artery catheter, with simultaneus echocardiographic register of the pulmonary artery (PA). An X ray contrast aortography was made afterwards. According to the intensity of the echos obtained from PA, CE was classified in grade I (weak echos) and grade II (dense echos). The size of PDA as seen in the aortography was classified depending on the ratio of to descending aortic diameter: ratios greater than 0.5 indicated large ductus, ratios less than 0.5 indicated small ductus. The aortographic-echocardiographic correlation was excelent: 11 cases with aortographic PDA had positive CE: 8 aortographic large PDA with CE grade II and 3 aortographic small PDA with CE grade I. This CE technique is easy to obtain and credible to detect PDA in prematures, allowing an early medical or surgical treatment. (
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