Diagnostic Probabilities at the Bedside

Echocardiographic studies to rule out congenital heart disease are performed for various clinical indications, such as cyanosis, cardiomegaly, heart failure, and cardiac murmur. Often, neonates and infants are referred for an echocardiogram as part of the evaluation of a clinical syndrome, such as Down’s syndrome, or maternal illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus or Rubella. Hence, it is important for the echocardiographer to be aware of the specific cardiac abnormalities commonly encountered in such situations. This chapter deals with such clinical scenarios.