Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer® device: 15 years of experience]

Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects is an alternative to surgical treatment.We report the results of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer(®) device.We include patients taken to the catheterization laboratory from September 1997 to December 2011.We proceeded with defect closure in 721 patients and in 85 the defect was considered not suitable for closure. The stretched diameter of the defect was 23±6.7mm (limits, 5-42). All devices were positioned successfully. In 15 cases (2.1%) the device was changed due to instability and in 6 (0.8%) the device embolized within the first 24h, 4 were retrieved and repositioned (final success with intention to treat 719/806-89.2%). Immediate control showed complete closure in 247 patients (34.3%), leak through the device in 395 (54.9%), mild residual leak in 75 (10.4%) and moderate in 2 (0.3%). We have follow-up in 626 patients (87.1%) for 33±27.5 months, with headache in 54 (8.6%), new supraventricular arrhythmia in 10 (1.6%), puncture site complications in 4 (0.6%), and stroke in one (0.1%).The design of the Amplatzer(®) device allows effective closure of atrial septal defects with a simple technique and patient safety.