To evaluate the morphology of atrial septum by the live three-dimensional echocardiography (L3DE) and its value of clinical application, L3DE was performed in 62 subjects to observe the morphological characteristics and dynamic change of the overall anatomic structure of atrial septum. The study examined 49 patients with atrial septal defect (ASD), including 3 patients with atrial septal aneurysm, and 10 healthy subjects. ASD in the 35 patients was surgically confirmed. The maximal diameters of ASD were measured and the percentages of area change were calculated. The parameters derived from L3DE were compared with intraoperative measurements. The results showed that L3DE could directly and clearly display the morphological features of overall anatomic structure of normal atrial septum, repaired and artificially-occluded atrial septum, atrial septal aneurysm. The defect area in ASD patients changed significantly during cardiac cycle, which reached a maximum at end-systole and a minimum at end-diastole, with a mean change percentage of 46.6%, ranging from 14.8% to 73.4%. The sizes obtained from L3DE bore an excellent correlation with intraoperative findings (r=0.90). It is concluded that L3DE can clearly display the overall morphological features and dynamic change of atrial septum and measure the size of ASD area accurately, which is important in the decision to choose therapeutic protocols.
Atrial Septum/*ultrasonography ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*pathology ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*ultrasonography ; Young Adult

The Holt-Oram syndrome or cardiomelic syndrome is characterized by the association of upper limb and heart malformations. Most frequently, abnormalities of the thumb and secundum atrial septal defects are associated with the disease. The mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant. The etiology of this disease is unknown but is most likely of multifactorial origin. Here we report a case Holt-Oram syndrome with affected mother which was diagnosed at 18th gestational weeks by prenatal ultrasonograpy. Fetal ultrasonography revealed abnormalities of upper limbs, and heart. The upper limbs were shorter than normal, syndactyly of both hands were seen and both wrists were markedly angulated. Ventricular septal defect was suspicious. After genetic counselling her pregnancy was terminated at 22nd gestational week.
Hand ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Pregnancy ; Syndactyly ; Thumb ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; Upper Extremity ; Wills ; Wrist

We evaluated the accuracy of a noninvasive method for estimating right ventricular systolic pressures in patients with atrial septal defect and tricuspid regurgitation defected by two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound. Of 54 patients with atrial septal defect, 24(44%) had jets of tricuspid regurgitation. By use of the maximum velocity(V) of the regurgitatant jet recorded by continuous wave Doppler ultrasound and the Bernoulli equation, we predicted right ventricular systolic pressure(RVP) calculated by the equation of RVP=4V2+10 proposed by Tei et al.The values correlated well with catheterization values(r=0.851, standerd error of estimate=4mmHg). In addition the relation between the Lt to Rt shunt amount and the severity of tricuspid regurgitation was assessed. The severity of tricuspid regurgitation graded on a four-pointscali by pulsed Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography correlated with Qp/Qs ratio calculated by the Fick's method(p<0.05).
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Echocardiography ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency* ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: The aims of this study was to assess the indication, diagnostic, accuracy and prognostic influence of fetal echocardiography. METHODS: From 1995 to 1999, 283 pregnancies were evaluated with fetal echocardiography at Dong-A University Hospital. We reviewed medical records included indication, fetal echocardiographic findings, postnatal echocardiographic findings, methods of treatment and outcome of prenataly diagnosed patients. RESULTS: Family history of congenital heart disease led to 32.2% of all fetal echocardiography with a detection rate of 2.1%. The most important indication of fetal echocardiography was suspected heart anomaly on a screening obstetric ultrasonography yield(detection rate : 61.7%). Nearly all forms of congenital heart disease were detected in utero. However several forms of structural congenital heart disease such as ventricular septal defect and anomalous pulmonary venous return were difficult to diagnosis in utero. In 13 fetuses arrhythmias were detected; the most common arrhythmia was premature atrial contraction. Improving the outcomes of patients with prenatal diagnosis are so far controversial because of the small number of cases and increased termination rates of fetuses with congenital heart disease. CONCLUSION: Fetal echocardiography has emerged as a reliable tool for prenatal detection of congenital heart disease and arrhythmia. But the effect of prenatally detected congenital heart disease on the management and the outcome of pregnancy can be controversial and legal problems may be important issues in the future.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Premature Complexes ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Fetus ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Medical Records ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Scimitar Syndrome ; Ultrasonography

Percutaneous device closure for secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) has been performed commonly and safely with high success rates. However, it is still challenging to close ASDs that are surrounded with deficient or hypermobile rims and could be compromised with an unexpected migration of device. We report a case of percutaneous Amplazter Septal Occluder (ASO; St. Jude Medical Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA) device closure for an ASD with a thin and floppy interatrial septum, which immediately migrated into the right atrium and was not pulled back into the delivery sheath. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a successful percutaneous retrieval and redeployment of the device in such a situation, preventing any vascular injury or unplanned emergency open heart surgery.
Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Heart Atria/ultrasonography ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial/*therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; *Septal Occluder Device

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in transcatheter closure of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) combined with secoundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD). METHODS: Fourteen patients (3 males and 11 females) who had ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD were diagnosed by TTE or transesophageal echocardiography. The ASA projected to the right atrium in all patients. The width of basilar part was 13 approximately 24 (18.5+/-3.9) mm, and the vertical extent was 7 approximately 11(9.7+/-1.8) mm. Ten patients combined with single hole ASD and 4 patients with multiple hole ASD. Blood shifting from the left atrium to the right atrium was displayed in color Doppler in all patients. All patients were treated by transcatheter closure under the guiding of X fluoroscopy and TTE, and examined with TTE during the follow-up. RESULTS: Transcatheter closure was successfully performed by 14 occluders in all patients. No residual shunt was detected immediately by TTE after the procedure in all patients. During the 6 approximately 12 month follow-up, no residual shunt or occluder shifting was found, the dimensions of the heart became normal in 11 patients (79%) and were significantly decreased in 4. CONCLUSION Transcatheter closure is feasible in patients with ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD, and extra attention must be paid to the specialty. TTE is very important in case selection before transcatheter closure, and it may be used to monitor and guide the procedure during transcatheter closure.
Adult ; Atrial Septum ; Balloon Occlusion ; methods ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; complications ; therapy ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative application of echocardiography in mini-invasive surgical device closure of secundum atrial septal defects, including those special and difficulty-occluded defects. METHODS: We performed mini-invasive surgical device closure of secundum atrial septal defects on 287 patients. Before the surgery, transthoracic echocardiography was applied for screening; during the surgery we reassessed the sizes of the defects and their remaining margins, designated the suitable occluders, and guided the placement of the occluders by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography. The patients were postoperatively followed up at regular intervals by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (MTEE) which was employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy. RESULTS: Out of the 287 atrial septal defects, 276 (96.17%) were successfully closed. There were 37 porous defects and 23 cases with short posterior-inferior margin of defects. Follow-ups at intervals showed the occluders stayed firmly and echoed clearly. No notable residual shunt or valve regurgitation was observed. CONCLUSION Echocardiography plays a vital and reliable role in mini-invasive surgical device closure of secundum atrial septal defects, especially those special and difficulty-occluded defects.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; methods ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Septal Occluder Device ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Sporadic reports of hypernatremic dehydration in breastfed newborn infants have appeared in medical literature for at least 3 decades. We report the first case of hypernatremic dehydration resulting from inadequate breast-feeding in Korea. A 14-day old baby, born to a mentally retarded mother, was transferred to our hospital with a body weight loss of 460 g since birth(17%) and a serum sodium(Na) level of 179 mEq/L, after initial hydration at another hospital. On admission, a cardiac murmur was heard and an enlarged liver was palpated. Cardiac ultrasonogram revealed ventricular septal defect and ostium secundum atrial septal defect. During hydration, a seizure-like attack developed. Serum Na decreased to 135 mEq/L on the 5th day of admission. Brain ultrasonography and brain magnetic resonance image revealed no remarkable abnormalities. Electroencephalography was normal. She suffered from prerenal azotemia, hyperglycemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation at admission but was treated successfully. Heart failure was also controlled with dobutamine, diuretics and digoxin.
Azotemia ; Body Weight ; Brain ; Breast Feeding ; Dehydration* ; Digoxin ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Diuretics ; Dobutamine ; Electroencephalography ; Heart Failure ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypernatremia ; Infant, Newborn* ; Korea ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Mothers ; Ultrasonography

Patau syndrome is trisomy 13, one of the abnormalities of chromosomal structure and, is relatively common with Down syndrome and Edward syndrome. Also it is associated with intrauterine growth retardation, holoprosencephaly, cyclopia, cleft lip, cleft palate, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, extremity abnormalities, and renal malformations. Because early death is typical with 50% of infants with trisomy 13 dying within 1 month and only 18% surviving more than 1 year, prevention through genetic counseling may be important for subsequent pregnancy. We present one case of trisomy 13 with abnormal ultrasound finding of holoprosencephaly, cyclopia, micrognathia, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, and intrauterine growth retardation. And confirmed chromosomally with pregnancy termination.
Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Down Syndrome ; Extremities ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Genetic Counseling ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Holoprosencephaly ; Humans ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Trisomy ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDThe percutaneous transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is increasingly a widespread alternative to surgical closure. The aim of this study was to assess long-term results of percutaneous closure of secundum-type atrial septal defect (ASDII).

METHODSBetween January 2001 and December 2005, 61 patients underwent a successful percutaneous closure of ASDII; including 25 male and 36 female. All were included in the patient study and were followed up to monitor by electrocardiogram and echocardiography, at intervals of 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years after operation.

RESULTSThree days after percutaneous transcatheter septal closure (PTSC), the right atrium diameter, right ventricular end-diastolic left-right diameter and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Right ventricular end-diastolic anteroposterior diameter (RVEDD), right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) also decreased (P < 0.01). During the period from 3 to 6 months, the size of the right atrium and right ventricle returned to normal range. Three days after PTSC, the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular-systolic volume (LVSV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were significantly increased (P < 0.05). At 1 year, the size of the left atrium, left ventricle and left cardiac function returned to normal range (P < 0.01). There were no deaths or significant complications during the study. At five year follow-up, all defects were completely closed and remained closed thereafter.

CONCLUSIONTranscatheter closure of ASDII effectively eliminated the abnormal shunt and, subsequently improved the dimensions of each chamber and cardiac function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult