[Usefulness of intracardiac echocardiography in interventional catheterization in congenital cardiopathies]

Intracardiac echocardiography is a new ultrasound image method that we are using during interventional cardiac procedures. Our experience began in June 2002 and until August 2003 we have treated 52 patients with atrial septal defect using this method as control tool for the procedure. This diagnostic method avoids the need for general anesthesia, achieves better views of the left heart structures, stretching balloon and device, and avoids the pharyngeal pain associated with the use of transesophageal probes. The disadvantages are the need to use 10 F introducers in small children, it still does not have the possibility of 3-Dimensional reconstruction and the cost of the catheter.