Description

The probe is positioned in a transverse fashion with the probe mark pointing to the left of the infant. The beam is angled anterior to view the atria. Colour Doppler is applied to the interatrial septum to assess for the presence of an ASD (atrial Septal defect) or a PFO (patent foramen ovale). Red flow represents flow towards the probe and blue flow represents flow away from the probe. Flow from the superior vena cava (SVC) is seen draining into the right atrium (RA). Two pulmonary veins are seen draining into the left atrium. The scale on the colour Doppler should be set to about 50 to 60 cm/s to adequately visualise venous flow.