EC Paediatrics

Introduction: Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) has the objective to create or to increase in size an atrial septal defect to improve the shunt between both atria or reduce the pressure in one of them, which can be guided by echocardiography or by fluoroscopy.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a quantitative, observational, analytical, cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study at the neonatal intensive care unit, from September 2010 to March 2023. The study included newborns who underwent BAS guided by echocardiography (group A) or fluoroscopy (group B).

Results: 43 patients were included: Group A: 25 patients and group B: 18 cases. Atrial septa defect (ASD) and oxygen saturation increased similarly in both groups. The procedure time and bleeding were higher in the group B. There were two complications in group A and four complications in group B. In one patient (of group A) the BAS was performance with “dual” BAS technique (previously not described).

Discussion: Both groups were similar in relation of characteristics about the patients and there was not significance statistical. The complications in our study were similar to other authors. In the group B; 3 mayor complications were presented (group A had not fatal complications), which was statistically significant (p = 0.034).

Conclusion: In our setting; BAS performed under echocardiographic guidance is safer and such as effective as BAS under fluoroscopic guidance,

 Keywords: Balloon Atrial Septostomy; Atrial Septal Defect; Echocardiography; Fluoroscopy; Complications

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