The monitoring value of echocardiography for atrial septostomy during the treatment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the monitoring value of echocardiography for atrial septostomy during the treatment of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO).Methods:Sixteen patients underwent atrial septostomy during the treatment of ECMO in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital from Jan.2017 to Dec.2019 were included. The diameter of the ostomy, the direction of interatrial shunt, the tricuspid regurgitation degree and the pulmonary artery pressure were measured by echocardiography daily after atrial septostomy.Results:There were no significant differences in the diameter of the ostomy in 16 patients(the range of coefficient of variation 0.86%-4.77%). The direction of interatrial shunt changed gradually from right - left atrial shunt to left - right atrial shunt. Pulmonary arterial pressure decreased gradually(the range of coefficient of variation 14.70%-32.13%) as estimated by tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient.Conclusions:Atrial septostomy is an effective measure to relieve right heart pressure and improve right heart function in patients with ECMO. The echocardiography can be helpful for the monitoring of atrial septostomy.