SCIMITAR SYNDROME - 5 CASES EXAMINED WITH 2-DIMENSIONAL AND DOPPLER-ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Five patients with scimitar syndrome (three boys, two girls) with a me an age of 3.4 years (range 6 months to 11 years) were studied with two -dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Four-chamber apical and par asternal short- and long-axis views were obtained, in addition to subc ostal views. The anomalous drainage was seen entering the inferior ven a cava below the diaphragm in three patients, and in two cases the inf erior vena cava was considered normal (both patients had supradiaphrag matic drainage). The anomalous flow velocity pattern was monophasic wi thout reverse flow at atrial contraction. The peak velocity ranged fro m 0.6 to 1.0 m/s (mean 0.8 m/s). In one case an ostium secundum atrial septal defect was detected. It is concluded that two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography permit demonstration of the anomalous drainag e, analyze the anomalous flow velocity pattern, and detect other assoc iated cardiac abnormalities.