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Objective: The aim of this study was to use tissue Doppler imaging to evaluate the left atrial systolic and the left ventricular (LV) diastolic function as well as the left atrial ejection force in children who underwent transcatheter closure of a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). Methods: Tissue Doppler measurements of the left atrial ejection force, the mitral valve, and left atrial volume were performed before the ASD closure procedure, and on the 1st day, 10th day, and 1st and 3rd months after the procedure in 56 patients and in 28 healthy controls. Results: There was a significant decrease in the septal and lateral a' velocities on the first day (p

Background/Aim: This study aimed to measure and compare the ejection force of the cardiac chambers in healthy singleton fetuses and to investigate the relationship of ejection force of cardiac chambers with gestational age, fetal sex, and fetal heart rate. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was performed on 68 singleton fetuses with a gestational age of 17–34 weeks. Atrial and ventricular ejection force was measured. Measurements were repeated in 18 of the fetuses to assess intraobserver reliability. Results: The right atrium had the highest ejection force of all the cardiac chambers. Ejection force of both atria and ventricles increased with gestational age. Conclusion: The right atrium is the dominant chamber of the fetal heart in 17–34 weeks of gestation. Comparison of our values with previous studies indicates that left atrial ejection force almost doubles in the 1st month after birth. This study highlights the crucial role of the right atrium in the fetal cardiac function during 17–34 weeks of gestation.