The surgeon's use of epicardial echocardiography during repair of congenital heart defects.

Intraoperative echocardiography in the evaluation of congenital heart defects is a useful method to evaluate surgical anatomy, adequacy of repair, and ventricular performance. Since 1987, 733 patients have undergone epicardial echocardiography during repair. The routine use of this technique has led to the reduction in the need for both early and late reoperation.