Comparison of post-operative transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiogram findings following atrioventricular septal defect repair.

Success of atrioventricular septal defect repair is defined by post-operative atrioventricular valve function and presence of residual intracardiac shunting. We evaluated differences in interpretation of atrioventricular valve function and residual defects between transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography in a contemporary cohort of infants undergoing atrioventricular septal defect repair. Among 106 patients, we identified an increase in left and right atrioventricular valve regurgitation, right atrioventricular valve inflow gradient, and increased detection rate of residual intracardiac shunting on transthoracic compared to transesophageal echocardiograms, although residual shunts identified only on transthoracic echocardiogram were not haemodynamically significant. Findings may help inform expectation of post-operative transthoracic echocardiogram findings based on intraoperative assessment.