MANAGEMENT OF COMPLICATIONS OF SIDERIS TRANSCATHETER DEVICES FOR ATRIAL SEPTAL-DEFECT CLOSURE

Various devices that can be inserted transvenously to close an ostium secundum atrial septal defect are undergoing clinical trials. Although these are safe and effective in most instances, they may occasionally dislodge or fail to ''button'' properly, causing migration and emboli zation. We report two cases in which the occluder and counteroccluder of the Sideris device for transvenous atrial septal defect occlusion ( Custom Medical Devices, Amarillo, Tex.) failed to ''button'' appropria tely, migrating in the right atrium in one patient and embolizing to t he pulmonary artery in the second patient. An emergency operation was required to retrieve the device and repair the atrial septal defect.