The Levo-Angiocardiogram in Tetralogy of Fallot: Its Practical Importance1

This work is concerned with the opacification of the left side of the heart by venous angiocardiography in cases of tetralogy of Fallot and with the conditions which affect the degree of this opacification. Dense opacification of the left side of the heart in the late phase of the angiocardiogram indicates that a considerable quantity of blood has passed through the pulmonary circuit and has arrived in the left atrium and ventricle. It follows, then, that the dextroposition or overriding of the aorta is not marked and that the outflow tract of the right ventricle and the pulmonary vessels are of sufficient size to eliver the blood to the lungs. One reaches conclusion, therefore, that in most cases of tetralogy of Fallot with dense left-sided opacification of the heart and aorta in the late phase of a venous angiocardiogram there exists a good pulmonary blood flow, but that in those cases which do not show this opacification most of the blood passes into the systemic circulation. There is thus a radiologic...