title: Monitoring complex secundum atrial septal defects percutaneous closure with real time three-dimensional echocardiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases. Nowadays, percutaneous closure is considered the treatment of choice in most of secundum ASDs. Assessment of the defect and procedure monitoring have been usually performed by angiographic balloon-sizing and/or two-dimensional (2D) transesophageal echocardiography. However, in complex ASDs these techniques might be inaccurate.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009 to January 2011 all adult patients with complex ASDs submitted for percutaneous closure were selected. Those defects, where shunts were present through a device previously implanted on the atrial septum or through multiperforated septums, were considered complex ASDs. Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography and real time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography were performed simultaneously during the percutaneous closure procedure. Number of orifices, relationships between the defect, catheter, and device, as well as residual shunt were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were included. Five patients had a multiperforated septum and in two cases the defect in the septum was through a previously implanted device. In all cases, 3D echocardiography was superior to 2D echocardiography in relation to the assessment of the relationship between the defect and the catheter or the device. Mechanisms responsible for residual shunts through a device were also better assessed by 3D echocardiography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three-dimensional echocardiography is a safe and useful technique when monitoring percutaneous closure of ASDs, showing relevant advantages over 2D echocardiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain. dani11gf@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García-Fuertes
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mesa-Rubio
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Ortiz
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delgado-Ortega
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tejero-Mateo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pan-Álvarez-Ossorio
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suárez-de-Lezo
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafuente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003199:Computer Systems; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult