Abstract
Background. Although atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease, its evaluation by two-dimensional echocardiography is limited because the en face view of the atrial septum is not seen. We performed three-dimensional echocardiography to observe the en face view of atrial septal defect to measure the defect size, and we compared the results to surgical findings.
Methods. We studied 17 patients (5 men and 12 women) who underwent surgical closure of an atrial septal defect using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography. The en face view of the defect was viewed, and short- and long-axis diameters of the defect were measured. The shape of the defect was also compared to surgical findings.
Results. A significant positive correlation existed between long-axis diameter on three-dimensional echocardiography and that measured during surgery (y=0.89x+6.24, r=0.95, p<0.001). Short-axis diameter obtained on three-dimensional echocardiography was slightly greater than that measured during surgery, but a significant positive correlation existed (y=1.04x+3.57, r=0.91, p<0.001). In all patients, three-dimensional echocardiography showed an elliptical shape of the defect, which was similar to surgical findings.
Conclusions. The dimensions and morphology of atrial septal defects measured by three-dimensional echocardiography matched well with surgical findings, suggesting that three-dimensional echocardiography is useful for preoperative planning.
