Echocardiographic Guidance for Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect

Objective To survey echocardiographic guidance used for the closure of atrial septal defect(ASD) using occlusion device. Methods Ten patients with secundum ASD ranging from 15 to 25 mm diameter received transcatheter closure through minimally invasive transthoracotomy or right cardiac catheter. Transesophageal echocardiography(TEE), or combined with gauge balloon in X\|ray, was used for detection of ASD and its borders, selection of occluder size, and guidance of all closure procedures. Results All ten patients were treated successfully. Nine of them showed no residual shunt with echocardiography during and after operation, and a 2 mm\|wide shunt was found in one patient who had two ASD repaired by one occluder. Conclusion In the closure of ASD using occlusion device, echocardiography is important in the selection of patient, guidance of closure procedures and follow\|up examinations. TEE can also be used for selection of occluder size in some patients.\;