Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 July 2010
To investigate whether accurate estimation of the diameter of the patent ductus arteriosus can be obtained by colour Doppler echocardiography.
The minimum and maximum diameters of the patent ductus arteriosus were measured by colour Doppler echocardiography and compared with its angiographic size.
We studied 40 patients, aged between 4 months and 18 years. The measured pulmonary side diameter in echocardiography was 33.6% larger than that in angiography, and the aortic side was 7.8% smaller. We found a correlation between the measurements of the minimum and maximum size of the patent ductus arteriosus (r = 48.8 and 52.6) by colour Doppler echocardiography and angiographic findings, respectively.
Colour Doppler echocardiography significantly overestimates the minimum size of the patent ductus arteriosus; therefore, reconsideration of the respective size is suggested.