Usefulness of trans-oesophageal echocardiography using intracardiac echography probe in guiding patent foramen ovale percutaneous closure.

AIMS: To evaluate the use of intracardiac echocardiography probe through oesophageal route (ICE-TEE) for the monitoring of percutaneous foramen ovale (PFO) closure procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was conducted in 50 patients divided into two groups: in group I (n = 24), accuracy of ICE-TEE in assessing the inter-atrial septum (IAS) was compared with standard TEE, and in group II, we used ICE-TEE to monitor 26 consecutive patients referred for PFO closure. In group I, IAS was constantly visualized with a close correlation between ICE-TEE and standard TEE for IAS excursion (r = 0.9, P < 0.0001). In group II, ICE-TEE allowed to rule out four patients (three without PFO and one with septal atrial defect associated) and identified three complications during PFO closure procedure (pericardial effusion, inadequate device deployment, and cardiac thrombus). Finally, device implantation was successfully performed in the 22 patients with no residual shunt and thrombus observed after 3 months. CONCLUSION: ICE-TEE could be used to monitor PFO closure procedure.