Doppler evaluation of surgically repaired congenital heart disease.

Surgical repair of a wide variety of congenital heart defects has become commonplace. Evaluation of the adequacy of the surgical repair, and the effects of growth and time upon these repairs has traditionally been through clinical evaluation or invasive study; each method has limitations. Doppler echocardiography provides an accurate and fully noninvasive means for initial evaluation at the time of surgery, and for serial follow-up, without the risk or cost of invasive study. Applications and experience with Doppler evaluation of a variety of surgically repaired defects are discussed. For most lesions, Doppler echocardiography is the procedure of choice for post-operative evaluation.