Value of color Doppler echocardiography in occlusion of senile atrial septal defect

Objective To study the value of color Doppler echocardiography(CDE) in occlusion of senile atrial septal defect(ASD).Methods Sixty-four elderly ASD patients were included in this study.The ASD location,size and residual edge were observed by 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE).Atrial septal shunt and heart valve regurgitation signals were detected by color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI),and pulmonary artery pressure was measured by successive Doppler echocardiography before occlusion.Indications for ASD occlusion were selected for those with atrial fibrillation or multiple ASD by transesophageal echocardiography(TEE).The position of occluder was monitored by 2DE during ASD occlusion,and atrial septal shunt was measured by CDFI.Curative effct of ASD occlusion was assayed by CDE.Results The ASD occlusion was successful in all the 64 patients with a CDE-judged satisfactory ooutcome.Conclusion CDE plays an important role in ASD occlusion.The ASD location,size and residual edge should be observed by 2DE and pulmonary artery pressure should be measured by successive Doppler echocardiography before ASD occlusion.TEE is the key to the selection of indications for ASD occlusion in patients with atrial fibrillation or multiple ASD.