Phonocardiographic, radiological, and haemodynamic correlation in atrial septal defect

Abstract

Haemodynamic auscultatory, phonocardiographic, and haemodynamic radiological correlations were studied in 51 patients with proven atrial septal defect. A good correlation exists between the degree of left-to-right shunt and auscultatory and phonocardiographic parameters, especially for a tricuspid rumble, tricuspid opening snap, and delay of the tricuspid component of the first heart sound. A poor correlation exists between the degree of left-to-right shunt and the severity of radiological pulmonary hypervascularity. Therefore, when discordance is present between the auscultatory and radiological findings we believe the auscultatory criteria are more valuable for estimating the degree of shunt.