Atrial short-axis view

Jesús Zurita Peralta,MD, Alberto Sosa Olavarría, MD

CEUSP – Valencia. Venezuela.

The ultrasound images below show the atrial short-axis view and its pathology correlates which are sliced exactly in the same plane. 

The atrial short-axis plane view is obtained in the midsagittal plane. Similar plane which is used for the classic ventricular short-axis view. It only requires a slight shift of the transducer to the higher level.

The single image in the atrial short axis-plane offers a view of both atria, right atrial venous connections, components of the interatrial septum (septum primum, septum secundum) and the valve of the foramen ovale. 

This fetal cardiac view is technically easy to obtain and can be used to compare both atria, evaluate the interatrial septum and connections of the superior and inferior vena cava. 

Images 1,2: Image shows the atrial short-axis view. On a single image, we can see right atrium (RA), left atrium (LA), inferior portion of the septum secundum (1), superior portion of the septum secundum (2) and valve of the foramen ovale (3). Image 2 shows a pathology correlate sliced in the same plane as the ultrasound image.

Bicaval_view_Peralta_1b
Bicaval_view_Peralta_2a
 

Image 3,4: Atrial short-axis view. Image 3 is an ultrasound image. Image 4 is a pathology correlate.

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Bicaval_view_Peralta_3


Images 5,6: Atrial short-axis view showing right (RA) and left atrium (LA), interatrial septum and venous connection of the right atrium, superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC). Image shows also a middle hepatic vein (MHV). Image 6 is the pathology correlate of the ultrasound image.

Bicaval_view_Peralta_10a
Bicaval_view_Peralta_9

Video: Video of the atrial short-axis view demonstrating all the structures described above, right and left atrium, interatrial septum and venous connections of the right atrium.

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