Ultrasonographic display of complex vascular rings.

Ultrasonographic display of vascular ring anatomy has been limited to single-plane views. This does not readily allow for a three-dimensional interpretation of structural relations. A method that included a sweep consisting of multiple contiguous frontal planes was used in 12 patients with a vascular ring before repair for the evaluation of the arch sidedness and number, brachiocephalic vessel pattern, upper descending thoracic aorta sidedness, ductus arteriosus site or sites and proximal pulmonary arteries; 7 patients had Doppler color flow imaging. Complete imaging of the luminal vascular components was possible in all but one patient. In four other patients, atretic segments of the vascular ring could not be displayed. The addition of Doppler color flow imaging especially aided in the tracing of multiple vascular structures in complex cases and in assessing ductus arteriosus and arch patency. The use of a suprasternal frontal sweep with posterior angulation could display encirclement of the air-filled trachea. Vascular ring segments without lumens could not be displayed.