Closure of the fenestration in the extracardiac Fontan with the Amplatzer duct occluder device.

We report the successful use of the Amplatzer duct occluder for the delayed closure of the fenestration in three patients who underwent an extracardiac modified Fontan procedure. At the moment of closure, the patients were 5.5, 2.7, and 3 years old (29 months, 3 months, and 14 months after the Fontan procedure, respectively). Immediate full occlusion was achieved in all cases. In addition, arterial saturation increased significantly (> 5%) with no hemodynamic deterioration. There were no complications during or after the procedure, and the patients were discharged in good conditions the day after and with uneventful follow-up. In conclusion, the Amplatzer duct is safe and effective for the closure of the fenestration in the extracardiac Fontan. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.