[The value of M-mode echocardiography in children].

The use of M-mode-echocardiography in infancy and childhood is presented in terms of its value in 2 problem areas. The first concerns the differential diagnosis of the innocent systolic heart murmur: mitral valve prolapse syndrome, atrial septal defect and asymmetrical septal hypertrophy have to be excluded. In the critically ill newborn and infant--the 2.problem area--5 diagnoses play the main role: The hypoplastic left and right heart syndrome, transposition of the great arteries, Fallot-truncus complex and endocardial fibroelastosis. Possibilities and limitations of single beam echocardiography are discussed.