Comparison of intracardiac echocardiography versus transesophageal echocardiography guidance for percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect

Transcatheter closure of interatrial septal defects is guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which requires general anesthesia in most cases. Using a new intracardiac echocardiographic (ICE) catheter may avoid endotracheal and esophageal intubation while using only local anesthesia. Forty-two patients underwent transcatheter interatrial septal defect closure; half of them underwent TEE guidance with general anesthesia and the other half underwent ICE guidance with local anesthesia. Device deployment success rate, adequate 2-dimensional and Doppler visualization of the defect and deployment steps, interatrial communication closure at 24 hours, and at 3 and 6 months, procedure time length, complications, fluoroscopic time, and length of hospitalization were compared between both methods. All interventions were completed successfully with no complications, except for 1 patient in the TEE group who had a minor oral trauma. Echocardiographic visualization of the septal defect and deployment was adequate by both methods. Catheterization laboratory time (92 ± 18 vs 50 ± 12 minutes, p