Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect with Amplatzer Septal Occluder in Adults: Immediate, Short, and Intermediate-Term Results

Background: The transcatheter closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD) has become an alternative technique to surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the immediate, short, and intermediate-term results of the transcatheter closure of the secundum ASD with the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) in adult Iranian patients.Methods: Between December 2004 and July 2008, the transcatheter closure of the ASD using the ASO was attempted in 58consecutive, adult patients. The mean age of the patients was 37.1 ± 12.7 years (range = 19 - 75 years).All the procedures were performed under local anesthesia with transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopic guidance. The stretched diameter of the ASD was determined with a balloon sizing catheter, and device selection was based on and matched to the stretched diameter of the septal defect.Transthoracic echocardiography was performed immediately after the release of the device and before discharge.Further follow-up at one month, six months, and yearly thereafter included physical examination, electrocardiography, andtransthoracic echocardiography.Results: The mean ASD diameter, as measured by esophageal echocardiography, was 24.8 ± 5.4 mm (range = 13 - 34 mm).The mean stretched diameter, as measured by the balloon catheter, was 27.1 ± 6.4 mm (range = 12.5 - 39 mm). Deploymentof the ASO was successful in 52 (89.6%) patients and failed in 6 (10.4%). Four patients experienced severe complications,1 had tamponade requiring drainage, 2 had device embolization to the left atrium and right ventricular outflow tract, and 1 had late wire fracture (surgical removal and repair of the ASD). The position of two large devices (34 mm and 36 mm) was considered unsuitable and unstable after implantation and resulted in the removal of these devices.Minor complications included transient complete atrioventricular block in 1 patient, paroxysmal supra tachycardia in 3 patients, atrial flutter in 1 patient, and angina pectoris with transient ST elevation in 2 patients. The mean follow-up periodwas 32.5 ± 18.5 months. Echocardiography at 24 hours, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after the procedure showed residual shunts in 11 (21%), 3 (5.8%), 2 (3.8%), and 2 (3.8%) patients, respectively. At follow-up (12.8 months to 48.5 months, mean ± SD = 32.5 ± 18.5 months), complete closure was documented in 50 (96.2 %) of the 52 cases. At the end of the follow-up, 2 (3.8%) patients had residual shunts: The shunt was moderate in 1 (1.9%) patient and small in the other (1.9%).The overall success rate of the transcathete