A Comparison of Long-Term Right Ventricular Functions in Children with Transcatheter and Surgically Closed Secundum Atrial Septal Defects (ASDs): A Strain Echocardiography Study

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Secundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart defects, with an incidence of 5.64 per 10,000 live births worldwide. In our study, long-term follow-up results of children who underwent percutaneous ASD closure and patients who underwent surgical treatment were evaluated using right ventricular strain echocardiography and electrocardiography. <b>Methods</b>: 30 patients who underwent transcatheter ASD closure and 30 patients provided with surgical ASD closure were prospectively compared with 50 healthy children with similar demographic characteristics. ECG and transthoracic echocardiography were performed for all patients. The evaluated echocardiography variables are Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), 2D right ventricle (RV) and right atrium (RA) dimensions, right ventricular segmental longitudinal strain, and global longitudinal strain. ECG evaluation was performed especially in terms of QRS duration and its correlation with strain echo measurements. <b>Results</b>: The surgical treatment group has statistically significant ASD size compared to patients who underwent transcatheter closure (20 ± 3.6 and 14.87 ± 3.7 mm, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Patients who had surgical treatment have increased RA and RV diameters, and a statistically significant decrease was observed in right ventricular free-wall longitudinal strain and right ventricular four-chamber longitudinal strain compared to patients in transcatheter and the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). QRS durations were similarly normal in electrocardiography in the transcatheter and the control groups, and the QRS duration was observed as statistically significantly increased in the patients in the surgical treatment group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Strain values of the patients who underwent surgical closure were lower, and the QRS values on the ECG were longer, compared to the transcatheter group, which is an indicator that a large ASD diameter has a negative effect on long-term right ventricular function. With this in mind, we argue that early surgical closure is an appropriate treatment option for children whose ASD is large for their age and who are not suitable candidates for transcatheter treatment.