TRANSCATHETER CLOSURE OF ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECTS: EXPERIENCE OF A PEDIATRIC HEART CENTER

Transcatheter closure of the ASDs has become the procedure of choice for most centers. In this article, we report our experience in 129 children who have undergone transcatheter closure of their ASDs. The balloon stretched diameter of the ASDs ranged between 6 and 28 mm. The immediate success rate for device closure was 92% and closure success rate was 98% at one year follow-up. There was no significant relationship between the ASD size and the initial-implant success rate (p =NS). Multifenestrated ASDs were present in 18% of patients. Significant complications, including device embolization, aortic root erosion, thrombus formation, and 1st degree AV block, occurred in 6% of patients. There were no procedure related deaths, and there were no residual adverse effects in patients who required removal of their devices. Transcatheter device closure of ASDs is an effective and safe procedure with elimination of intraatrial shunts in vast majority of patients, and this should be the procedure of choice for the closure of ASDs which are amenable to device closure.