RESUMO
Objective To evaluate the clinical value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) on minimally invasive surgical closure of heart septal defects. Methods Thirty-four patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) and 38 patients with ventricular septal defect(VSD) were selected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) prepared for minimally invasive surgical closure. TEE was performed to choose appropriate occluder and guide occluder release during the procedure. The immediate closure effect also evaluated by using TEE. A week follow-up was done by using TTE. Results Successful occlusion was in 32 patients with ASD and 29 patients with VSD. On 1 week follow-up,neither displacement for the occluders nor residual shunt except minimal residual shunt in 3 patients. The ventrieular remodeling was improved, the valvular regurgitation and pulmonary arterial pressure decreased. Conclusions TEE is important in minimally invasive surgical closure of atrial, ventricular septal defects, especially in choosing the candidate for the procedure and occluder, guiding occluder released and evaluating the procedure.