Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects using the Amplatzer septal occluder in adult patients: our first clinical experiences

OBJECTIVES
We evaluated short-term results of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) with the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) in adults.

STUDY DESIGN
The study included 12 patients (6 males, 6 females; mean age 31±9 years; range 17 to 54 years) who underwent transcatheter ASD closure with the ASO device. Prior to the procedure, the mean pulmonary to systemic flow ratio was 1.9±0.3 (range 1.5 to 2.6). The mean ASD diameter measured by transesophageal echocardiography was 13.9±2.8 mm, the mean stretched diameter of ASD measured by balloon sizing was 15.8±3.4 mm, and the mean ASO device diameter was 17.3±4.7 mm. The patients were evaluated before and six months after the procedure by echocardiography, electrocardiography, and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification.

RESULTS
Transcatheter ASD closure was successfully performed in 11 patients (91.7%). The mean procedure time was 72 minutes. There was no residual shunt at six months after closure. No serious complications occurred during the procedure and within a mean follow-up of 11.6±2.3 months. Echocardiographic examination at six months showed significant decreases in right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (VEDD) (p=0.007), right/left VEDD ratio (0.003), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p=0.017), and significant increases in left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.014) and left VEDD (p=0.005). There were significant decreases in maximum (p=0.003) and minimum (p=0.006) P-wave durations, and P-wave dispersion (p=0.028). The NYHA functional capacity improved significantly from 1.8±0.8 to 1.3±0.5 (p=0.014).

CONCLUSION
Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD with the ASO device is a safe and effective method in adult patients, resulting in significant improvement in clinical symptoms and cardiac dimensions.