Abstract:

Objective: To study the value of echocardiography in closure of atrial septal defects. Methods: Analysis was made on preoperative and intraoperative diameter of defects, shunt, postoperative residual shunt, the size of the heart and pulmonary arterial pressure in 40 cases treated by closure of atrial septal defects. Results: Closure was successfully achieved only once in all 40 cases,with the 100% success rate. After 6-month postoperative follow-up monitoring, no residual shunt was observed and the effect was apparent. Patent ductus arteriosus was found only in 1 case because of missed diagnosis, and the right heart of another woman case of 42 years old was observed still big and moderate pulmonary hypertension was also observed when reexamined in 6 months' time.
Conclusion: Echocardiography in the treatment of atrial septal defects could accurately assess the defect size, provide reference for the choice of occluders, guide the embedding of the occluder in real time and evaluate the recovery of the patients, and it was an
indispensable monitoring way of closure of atrial septal defects.

Key words: echocardiography, atrial septal defects, closure