Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography in patients with transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Jul 18;48(2):322-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.03.036. Epub 2006 Jun 23.

Abstract

Objectives: We studied the value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) before and after closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic ischemic events.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is a powerful noninvasive tool for detailed assessment of cardiac anatomy and function. The relevance of CMRI compared with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients undergoing transcatheter PFO closure has not been evaluated so far.

Methods: Contrast-enhanced CMRI and TEE were performed in 75 patients before and after PFO closure. Twelve months after PFO closure, both imaging techniques were repeated in 61 patients with contrast application. To determine provokable atrial right-to-left shunting in CMRI, we applied a contrast-enhanced perfusion imaging technique. Detection of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) was achieved by means of a high-resolution cine imaging technique.

Results: Before PFO closure, ASA was seen with CMRI in 28 of 75 cases (37.3%), compared with 47 of 75 (62.7%) cases using TEE. There were a total of 211 CMRI studies with a corresponding TEE performed in 75 patients. No shunt was present in 107 of 211 studies with both techniques. Contrast-enhanced right-to-left shunting was detected by CMRI in 48 of 72 (66.6%) cases with moderate or severe shunts seen with TEE, but only in 6 of 32 (18.8%) studies with mild shunts with TEE. Anomalous venous returns were excluded in all patients. In two patients, coronary anomalies were seen.

Conclusions: The present CMRI technique is inferior to TEE in detection of contrast-enhanced right-to-left shunting and identification of ASA.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology
  • Contrast Media
  • Coronary Circulation
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
  • Female
  • Gadolinium DTPA
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / complications
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / physiopathology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / therapy*
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Valsalva Maneuver
  • Ventricular Function, Left
  • Ventricular Function, Right

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Gadolinium DTPA