One-year follow-up of the amplatzer device to close atrial septal defects

Successful percutaneous closure in patients with difficult atrial septal defects: case series and review of literature

Atrial septal defect is a common form of congenital heart disease. Percutenous closure is an important treatment option for these patients. In this case series, we intend to share the percutaneous closure of the difficult types of secundum atrial septal defects.

Closure of defects of the atrial septum in adults using the Amplatzer device: 100 consecutive patients in a single center

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) is an alternative to surgery, but experience is limited in adults, especially in those with large (> 26 mm) defects.

HYPOTHESIS

We investigated the safety, efficacy, and learning curve for closure of ASD and patent foramen ovale (PFO) using the Amplatzer device.

METHODS

In all, 101 procedures were carried out in 100 consecutive adult patients in a single cardiac center between July 1998 and August 2002.

RESULTS

Preprocedure diagnosis was ASD and PFO in 50 patients each. A device was deployed in 94 of 101 attempts (93%) in 94 of 100 patients (94%). Atrial septal defect device sizes were 10-38 mm, median 24 mm, and 40% were > 26 mm. Major complications occurred in 2 of 100 patients (2%). One ASD device displaced requiring surgery within 24 h and one patient with PFO experienced pericardial tamponade; there were no deaths. Local vascular complications occurred in 4 of 100 (4%) and late complications in 4 of 100 (4%) patients. Patent foramen ovale closure was quicker (p<0.001), required less radiation (p=0.04), and was associated with fewer local vascular complications than ASD closure (p=0.04). Deployment of ASD devices > 26 mm was not associated with increased complications, length of procedure, or radiation compared with devices < or = 26 mm (all p>0.05). Complications in the first 35 patients were more frequent than in subsequent patients: 7 of 35 (20%) versus 3 of 65 (4.6%) (p=0.04); procedure and fluoroscopy times (both p<0.001) and radiation doses (p=0.001) were also higher.

CONCLUSION

The Amplatzer device is an effective method for transcatheter closure of interatrial defects in adults, including large ASDs up to 38 mm. Major complications are uncommon. A learning curve of approximately 35 cases was suggested by the decline of complications, procedure times, and radiation exposure.

Transcatheter closure of very large (>or= 25 mm) atrial septal defects using the Amplatzer septal occluder

Between June 1999 and September 2002, 45 patients (age, 34 +/- 13 years; mean shunt ratio, 2.6 +/- 0.6) underwent transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure at our institution with the Amplatzer septal occluder (mean device size, 31.4 +/- 3 mm). Patients were selected by transesophageal echocardiography. The mean ASD dimension was 25.3 +/- 3.7 mm and 33 (73%) patients had deficient anterior rim. Specific procedural details included the use of 13 or 14 Fr introducer sheaths and the right upper pulmonary vein approach if the conventional approach failed. There were two procedural failures, with device embolization in both (surgical retrieval in one, catheter retrieval in one). During follow-up (3-30 months; median, 16 months), one patient (59 years) with previous atrial flutter had pulmonary embolism and was managed with anticoagulation. Two patients developed symptomatic atrial flutter. Fluoroscopy time was 31.6 +/- 19.5 min for the first 22 cases and 19.6 +/- 11.4 min for the rest (P = 0.04). Transcatheter closure of large ASDs is technically feasible but careful long-term follow-up is needed to document its safety.

Delayed embolization of Amplatzer septal occluder device: an unknown entity--a case report

A case of delayed embolization of Amplatzer septal occluder, occurring at 2 weeks postimplantation in a 10-year-old girl with an oval-shaped secundum atrial septal defect is reported. The structurally intact device dislodged into the left atrium owing to reversal of transatrial pressure gradients and embolized to the left ventricular outflow tract from where it was retrieved surgically.

Closure of secundum atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer septal occluder device: techniques and problems

Percutaneous transvenous closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) has become feasible in recent years, as later-generation devices have largely overcome initial difficulties in device deployment and complication rates. The Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) is one such device that we have used extensively and is, in our opinion, the most versatile and practical to use. It is capable of closing defects up to 40 mm in diameter via a relatively low-profile delivery sheath. More importantly, the ASO may be easily withdrawn into the sheath after deployment but prior to release, which is essential in safely closing difficult defects where successful positioning on the initial deployment is not guaranteed. In this article based on our experience, review of the literature, and communications with other operators, we describe the various problems encountered in closing atrial septal defects and make suggestions as to the best way of overcoming these difficulties.

Acute left ventricular failure after transcatheter closure of a secundum atrial septal defect in a patient with coronary artery disease: a critical reappraisal

We report a case of acute left ventricular failure after transcatheter closure of a single secundum atrial septal defect in a 68-year-old man with coronary artery disease. Just before the procedure, two coronary lesions had been treated with direct stenting. Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects should always be deferred in ischemic heart disease patients who need percutaneous myocardial revascularization.

Immediate and six-month results of the profile of the Amplatzer septal occluder as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography

Catheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) using the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) is a potential alternative for open surgical repair. However, the large profile of the device obtained immediately after closure continues to raise some concerns regarding its long-term safety. To evaluate the changes in the profile of the device after being deployed, transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 70 patients (17 men and 53 women) who underwent catheter closure of ASDs immediately after and at 6-month follow-up. The median age at closure was 16 years (range 1.9 to 75) and the median size of the ASD as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography was 14 mm (range 3 to 25). The thickness (profile) of the device was assessed in the 4-chamber, short- and long-axis views of the interatrial septum, and measured at its middle and at the junction of the waist with the disc at its 2 ends. Seventy-three devices were deployed in the 70 patients. The median size of the device was 19 mm (range 8 to 34). Complete closure was achieved in 81.4% and 91.4% immediately after and at 6-months follow-up, respectively. The thickness of the device at its middle decreased from 12.2 +/- 4.3, 12.2 +/- 3.7, and 12.5 +/- 4.3 mm in the 4-chamber, short- and long-axis views to 6.5 +/- 2.0, 6.3 +/- 1.9, and 6.5 +/- 2.2 mm, respectively. The thickness of the device at its superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior edges also decreased by 41.8% +/- 14.0% to 43.7% +/- 9.8%. The changes in the thickness were related to device size. Larger devices were thicker after being deployed. We conclude that the thickness of the ASO decreases by 42% to 48% within 6 months after deployment, resulting in a lower profile.