[Intracardiac echocardiography: a new tool for interventional cardiology]

Intracardiac echocardiography is a new technique based on the use of ultrasonic diagnostic catheter, which can be introduced through the femoral vein up of the right atrium. Intracardiac echocardiography provides bidimensional views, coupled to colour and pulsed Doppler. This review summarizes multiple applications of intracardiac echocardiography in the field of interventional cardiology, particularly during percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect. A major advantage of intracardiac echocardiography is the possibility of avoiding general anaesthesia as well as providing equivalent information to the reference technique of transoesophageal echocardiography.