The relevance of real-time intraoperatory echocardiogram as a guide to percutaneous treatment of septal defects through Amplatzer device.

The interatrial communication occlusion procedure must be continually monitored by transesophageal or intracardiac echocardiogram, since invaluable detailed information is provided, such as: stretched diameter measure – crucial for the choice on prosthesis size to be used; left atrium disk location guidance – thus avoiding dislocation through the defect; device positioning after all components have been opened; and tracking of possible periprosthetic residual flow (Figure 1).