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Creation of atrial communication was performed in a newborn with critical aortic stenosis. After the success of the initial creation, balloon atrial septostomy using Z-5 catheter was performed. When catheter was pulled back, the tip of the balloon was torn off. This experience could be considered as noteworthy when using this catheter in patients with unusually thick atrial septum.

Objective: To define by three dimensional echocardiography the pattern and potential determinants of contraction of a secundum atrial septal defect through the cardiac cycle, and to evaluate the possibility of using cross sectional transthoracic and transoesophageal imaging to assess the dynamic nature of the defect., Design: Three dimensional echocardiography was performed using a multiplane transoesophageal probe on 50 patients with a secundum atrial septal defect (median age 9.8 years). Nine patients were excluded because of poor images or morphological features that precluded defect measurement. In 41 cases, defect area, long and short axis length, and distance of the attenuated anterior rim were measured in their largest and smallest dimensions., Results: Defect area changed significantly through the cardiac cycle (mean change 61%, p < 0.0001; range 17% to 86%). The defect contracted symmetrically and was not related to patient age, defect size, heart rate, Qp/Qs ratio, the presence of an aneurysmal atrial septum, or attenuated anterior rim. In all cases with an attenuated anterior rim (n = 13), the length of the rim significantly decreased (p = 0. 001) during atrial systole. Dynamic changes measured by either transthoracic or transoesophageal cross sectional images did not correlate with those obtained by three dimensional imaging., Conclusions: Three dimensional echocardiography shows dynamic features of defects in the atrial septum. This information may lead to an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial shunting.

Objectives: To determine the accuracy of prenatal diagnosis of pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS), and pulmonary stenosis, including prenatal detection of ventriculocoronary connections, to evaluate heart size during the prenatal period, and to evaluate the outcome., Design and Patients: Medical records of 20 cases with prenatally diagnosed PAIVS and pulmonary stenosis were reviewed retrospectively. Prenatal and postnatal echocardiography were also reviewed and dimensions of the ventricles and vessels were measured retrespectively., Results: Of 20 prenatal diagnoses (15 PAIVS and five pulmonary stenosis), 16 were confirmed as correct. One critical pulmonary stenosis case had been diagnosed as PAIVS prenatally; three had no confirmation. Eight pregnancies were terminated, three had no active treatment, and nine were treated; all survived. Of 13 assessed with ventriculocoronary connections prenatally, seven were diagnosed correctly (four with, three without ventriculocoronary connections), but one was falsely positive; five had no confirmation. The more prominent hypoplasia of the main pulmonary artery and the tricuspid valve annulus, and the sigmoid shape of the ductus arteriosus, seemed to be associated with the presence of ventriculocoronary connections., Conclusions: Current prenatal echocardiography can accurately diagnose right ventricular outflow tract obstruction and ventriculocoronary connections. Prenatal detection of this constellation of abnormalities aids in family counselling and decisions on postnatal management.

Background: Although most neonates with d-transposition of the great arteries (TGA) have an uncomplicated preoperative course, some with a restrictive foramen ovale (FO), ductus arteriosus (DA) constriction, or pulmonary hypertension may be severely hypoxemic and even die shortly after birth. Our goal was to determine whether prenatal echocardiography can identify these high-risk fetuses with TGA., Methods and Results: We reviewed the prenatal and postnatal echocardiograms and outcomes of 16 fetuses with TGA/intact ventricular septum or small ventricular septal defect. Of the 16 fetuses, 6 prenatally had an abnormal FO (fixed position, flat, and/or redundant septum primum). Five of the 6 had restrictive FO at birth. Five fetuses had DA narrowing at the pulmonary artery end in utero, and 6 had a small DA (diameter z score of <-2.0). Of 4 fetuses with the most diminutive DA, 2 also had an abnormal appearance of the FO, and both died immediately after birth. One other fetus had persistent pulmonary hypertension. Eight fetuses had abnormal Doppler flow pattern in the DA (continuous high-velocity flow, n=1; retrograde diastolic flow, n=7)., Conclusions: Abnormal features of the FO, DA, or both are present in fetuses with TGA at high risk for postnatal hypoxemia. These features may result from the abnormal intrauterine hemodynamics in TGA. A combination of restrictive FO and DA constriction in TGA may be associated with early neonatal death.

Occlusion of the atrial septal defects in the oval fossa by interventional catheterization has progressed, but still has limitations. Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography can provide unique views unavailable by cross-sectional imaging. The objective of this study was to define the clinical application of 3D echocardiography in the assessment and monitoring of transcatheter occlusion of atrial septal defects. Three-dimensional echocardiography was attempted prior to occlusion of atrial septal defects in 41 patients (median age 8.6 years). Serial cross-sectional images were acquired by multiplane transoesophageal echocardiography and displayed by means of computer reconstruction. Dynamic 3D echocardiographic images of defects in the oval fossa were obtained in 40 of 41 patients (98%). Volume-rendering demonstrated the anterosuperior rim in 36 (90%) and the inferoposterior rim in 24 (60%), but failed to reveal small additional fenestrations in six. Sizes measured by 3D echocardiography were significantly larger than those provided by cross-sectional transoesophageal echocardiography (p=0.007), but differed little from those obtained with balloon sizing (p=0.6). After occlusion, 3D echocardiography showed positions of all arms of the device in 20 of 24 cases. Location of any protruding arms, or residual defects, were also clearly revealed. Three-dimensional images obtained in 12 patients during deployment of the double-umbrella device were useful in monitoring its position (single-frame) and for explaining the mechanism of protrusion. Current 3D echocardiography provides clinically relevant information for selection of patients for closure of atrial septal defects by interventional catheterization and when monitoring during implantation. Information obtained by this technique can clarify the mechanism of deployment of the device and closure of the defect, therefore influencing outcomes.