Guidelines for the Echocardiographic Assessment of Atrial Septal Defect and Patent Foramen Ovale: From the American Society of Echocardiography and Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Attention ASE Members:The ASE has gone green! Visit www.aseuniversity.org to earn free continuing medical education credit through an online activity related to this article. Certificates are available for immediate access upon successful completion of the activity. Nonmembers will need to join the ASE to access this great member benefit! The ASE has gone green! Visit www.aseuniversity.org to earn free continuing medical education credit through an online activity related to this article. Certificates are available for immediate access upon successful completion of the activity. Nonmembers will need to join the ASE to access this great member benefit! This document is designed for those with a primary interest and knowledge base in the field of echocardiography and for other medical professionals with a specific interest in the abnormalities of the interatrial septum and the use of cardiac ultrasonography. This includes cardiovascular physicians, other cardiovascular providers, cardiac sonographers, surgeons, cardiac interventionalists, neurologists, residents, research nurses, clinicians, intensivists, and other medical professionals. On completing the reading of the proposed guideline, the participants will better be able to1.Describe the conventional two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiographic methodology required for optimal evaluation and characterization of the interatrial septum from transthoracic echocardiographic, transesophageal echocardiographic, and intracardiac echocardiographic ultrasound technologies.2.Describe the echocardiographic parameters to characterize the normal interatrial septum and the abnormalities of atrial septal defect, atrial septal aneurysm, and patent foramen ovale. This will include the best practices for measurement and assessment techniques.3.Identify the advantages and disadvantages of each echocardiographic technique and measurements of the interatrial septum as supported by the available published data.4.Recognize which images should be used and measurements that should be included in the standard echocardiographic evaluation of patients with atrial septal defect, atrial septal aneurysm, and patent foramen ovale.5.Explain the clinical and prognostic significance of the echocardiographic assessment of atrial septal defect, atrial septal aneurysm, and patent foramen ovale, including not only the interatrial septum assessment, but also evaluation of the chamber size and function and the pulmonary circulation.6.Recognize what are the relevant features used to evaluate patients for potential transcatheter (i.e., device) closure of atrial septal abnormalities.7.Describe the important features and potential findings in the echocardiographic assessment of the patient after surgical and transcatheter interventions for atrial septal abnormalities.