Doppler tissue imaging analysis of ventricular function after surgical and transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect.

The long-term ventricular function of children after surgical and transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects was assessed by Doppler tissue imaging and compared with that of age-matched controls. Long-term right ventricular function was impaired in patients after surgical repair, as reflected by decreased systolic and diastolic tricuspid annular velocities and an increased Tei index. In contrast, right ventricular function was preserved after transcatheter device closure.