title: Superiority of echocardiographically assisted blade atrial septostomy.
abstract: Blade atrial septostomy has been applied in 3 patients with transposition of the great arteries under two-dimensional echocardiography instead of fluoroscopy. The blade at the tip of the catheter was seen on an echo screen when it was in the left atrium. The blade was then extended and pulled slowly across the atrial septum from the left into the right atrium, under echocardiographic monitoring. The procedure was successful in all 3 patients. Interatrial communication measured echocardiographically was sufficient in size. Since the interatrial septum is clearly seen by means of echocardiography during blade atrial septostomy, the method is thought to be superior to fluoroscopy in the prevention of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkutlu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saraçlar
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery