Surgery without angiography for neonates with aortic arch obstruction.

Traditional diagnostic assessment of the neonate and infant with congenital abnormalities of the aorta causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction has required catheterization and angiography. However, these patients frequently present critically ill and invasive diagnostic procedures may be associated with significant risks. Two-dimensional echocardiography has been used for aiding diagnosis of aortic arch abnormalities, but there has been little information concerning its use as the definitive imaging technique for preoperative assessment. We reviewed neonates who required urgent surgery for congenital obstruction of the aorta. The diagnosis was made using two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging and Doppler techniques for hemodynamic assessment in lieu of catheterization and angiography in all. Anatomic detail provided by the noninvasive approach was both sensitive and specific in guiding surgery in all but one case. We conclude that echocardiography eliminates the need for invasive preoperative diagnostic procedures in selected neonates with congenital aortic arch obstruction.