Digital Angiography in the Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease

Based on experimental and clinical studies, the technical aspects (choice of projection, injection technique), experimental and clinical results, and the indications for computerized digital angiography in congenital heart disease are reviewed. To obtain high-quality diagnostic images consistently, ECG-gating, suspended or gated respiration, and short pulsewidth acquisition are required. Clinically useful diagnostic information has been acquired in children with suspected functional murmurs, cardiac surgery that is believed to be inadequate, and in cyanotic newborns after intravenous injection of contrast material. Increased diagnostic information has also been obtained after intracardiac injection of small amounts of contrast and computerized digital processing of images in children undergoing cardiac catheterization.