PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K N Asrress
AU  - A R J Mitchell
TI  - Intracardiac echocardiography
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.2007.135137
DP  - 2009 Feb 01
TA  - Heart
PG  - 327--331
VI  - 95
IP  - 4
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/95/4/327.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/95/4/327.full
SO  - Heart2009 Feb 01; 95
AB  - Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is increasingly being used to guide percutaneous interventional procedures, principally the closure of interatrial septal abnormalities, and to support electrophysiological procedures. Clear views of intracardiac structures can help a number of other procedures, such as myocardial biopsy and paravalvular leak closure. The main advantages of ICE over transoesophageal echocardiography during closure of atrial septal defects are that the use of ICE eliminates the need for a general anaesthetic, affords clearer imaging, shorter procedure times and reduces hospital stays and radiation doses. The principal disadvantage is the additional cost of the catheter, though this can be offset by improved turnaround times and reduced personnel costs.