Feasibility of transcatheter device closure of secundum atrial septal defect under transthoracic echocardiography guidance.

Objective: To determine the usefulness and safety of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) imaging for real time guidance in transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) secundum. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, CPEIC, Multan, Pakistan. Period: January 2022 to December 2023. Material & Methods: Patients of both genders aged above 3 years with clinical and echocardiographic evidence of ASD secundum with significant left to right shunt were analysed. All cases had morphologically suitable margins of defect confirmed on TTE. Usefulness and safety of intra-procedure and immediate post-procedure transcatheter device closure of secundum ASD were noted. Results: In a total of 34 patients, 20 (58.8%) were female and 14 (41.2%) male. The mean age was 21.32±17.21 years. The TTE findings revealed that the mean ASD side was 17.47±4.32 mm. Aortic margins were deficient among 28 (82.4%) cases. The mean fluoroscopy and procedure time were 9.29±6.98 minutes and 49.91±39.76. Residual leak was noted in one (2.9%) cases while none of the cases were observed to have superior vena cava, inferior vena cava or pulmonary vein obstructions. Post-procedure, transient supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) arrhythmia was the most common type of complication reported among 2 (5.9%) cases. None of the cases needed any kind of emergency surgical exploration. No cases of pericardial effusion were found. No mortality was reported. Conclusion: Transcatheter device closure of secundum atrial septal defect was found to be effective and safe using TTE.