Transcatheter closure of interatrial communications with Amplatzer device: results, unfulfilled attempts and special considerations in children and adolescents
1Department of Pediatric Cardiology Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
2Başkent Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul Sağlık Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi, Pediyatrik Kardiyoloji ve Anabilim Dalı, Altunizade, İstanbul-Türkiye
3Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Faculty, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Anatol J Cardiol 2005; 5(3): 159-164 PubMed ID: 16140642
Full Text PDF

Abstract

Objective: We report our clinical experience with the Amplatzer device in transcatheter closure of 80 atrial septal defects (ASD) in children. Methods: Among 99 patients (mean age: 7.2±3.8 years) with ASD selected by transthoracic echocardiography, procedures were performed in 80 patients under general anesthesia with fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance. Optimal device size was selected after stretched balloon sizing of the ASD’s. The patients were discharged at 24 hours after an evaluation with X-ray, electrocardiography and echocardiography. Results: The mean follow-up period (FUP) was 38±14 months. Mean ASD size was 11.5± 3.7 mm at TEE (stretched size: 17.6±3.9 mm). The mean size of the device was 18.6±4.0 mm. Procedure and fluoroscopy time were 52.1±17.8 minutes and 11±4.9 minutes respectively. Immediately after the procedure 35 patients (43.8%) had residual shunts. Trivial shunt remained in only 2 of them (2.5%) after FUP. None of the patients had major complications. Minor and transient rhythm abnormalities were observed in 5 patients and trivial mitral regurgitation was seen in 6 patients. Conclusion: Amplatzer is an effective and safe device for transcatheter closure of ASD especially in pediatric patients.