Pulsed Doppler echocardiography in patients with aorto-pulmonary connection.

The pulsed Doppler principle enables us to study the bloodflow velocity at specific points in the heart and great vessels. In such aorto-pulmonary connections as patent ductus arteriosus, aorto-pulmonary window and truncus arteriosus the bloodflow velocity patterns are typical of the malformation. Based on knowledge of these abnormal flow patterns the diagnoses of these malformations can be made.