Transesophageal echocardiographic guidance of blade atrial septostomy in children

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used to guide blade atrial septostomy in children requiring decompression of right or left atrium. In conjunction with biplane fluoroscopy, TEE was used to position the blade septostomy catheter and to monitor the pullback from left atrium to right atrium. Subsequent balloon dilatation of atrial septum was also carried out under TEE control. The use of TEE monitoring facilitated the procedure by providing optimal views of intracardiac structures while also limiting the total radiation exposure. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;52:200–202. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.