Intracardiac Echocardiogram: Feasibility, Efficacy, and Safety for Guidance of Transcatheter Multiple Atrial Septal Defects Closure

Abstract

We aimed to determine the feasibility, efficacy, success, and safety of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in transcatheter multiple atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Of 185 patients with multiple ASDs who underwent transcatheter closure, 140 (76%) patients who weighed <30kg with a narrow distance between defects or in whom single device closure was anticipated were guided by ICE and 45 patients were guided by three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with or without ICE. Patients in the ICE group were relatively younger and weighed less than those in the 3D TEE group (p < 0.0001). The ratio of the distance between defects >7 mm was high, and more cases required ≥2 devices in the 3D TEE group than those in the ICE group (p < 0.0001). All patients in the 3D TEE group and seven patients (5%) in the ICE group were operated on under general anesthesia (p < 0.0001). The fluoroscopic time was shorter in the ICE group (13.98 ± 6.24 min vs. 24.86 ± 16.47 min, p = 0.0005). No difference in the complete closure rate and complications was observed. ICE-guided transcatheter and 3D TEE were feasible, safe, and effective in successful multiple ASD device closures, especially for young children and patients at high risk under general anesthesia.