Changes in cardiac morphology and function after successful transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in adults

Objectives To evaluate the changes in cardiac morphology and function after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD)by echocardiography in adults. Methods We measured and analyzed aortic dimension,left ventricular diastole internal diameter,left ventricular systole internal diameter,right ventricular anteroposterior dimension,pulmonary artery internal diameter,pulmonary valve blood flow rate,right atrium internal diameter,right ventricular up-down diameter,aortic valve blood flow velocity,mitral orifice blood flow velocity,tricuspid orifice blood flow velocity,left ventricular ejection fraction of the 74 patients with secundum-type ASD aged (35.63±12.74)years. The patients underwent echocardiographic examination before and 24 hours after transcatheter closure and during 1 month,3 months and 6 months follow-up. Diameter and length of occluder were also measured and analyzed. Results The diameter of right atrium,right ventricle,pulmonary artery and the blood flow velocity at tricuspid orifice,pulmonary valve decreased significantly 24 hours after the procedure(P0.01). The diameter of left atrium,left ventricle,aorta and the blood flow velocity at mitral orifice,aortic valve increased significantly 24 hours after the procedure (P0.05). No significant difference was found in left ventriculus ejection fraction during the 1 year follow-up. The cardiac size appeared to remain relatively stable one month after the procedure. Conclusions Successful transcatheter closure of ASD not only remove the shunt of atrial level,but also reconstruct right heart and left ventricle geometry significantly.