TRANSCATHETER CLOSURE OF INTERATRIAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH A MODIFIED UMBRELLA DEVICE

Objective-To show the institutional experience of closure of interatri al communications with a modified umbrella device. Design-Descriptive study of all patients in whom transcatheter umbrella closure of intera trial communications has been attempted. Setting-A tertiary referral c entre. Patients-16 patients with 17 interatrial communications of vari ous types. Interventions-Transcatheter placement of a modified Rashkin d umbrella occluder. Results-Two procedural failures due to venous acc ess problems. Two placement failures needing early surgical repair. 13 successful placements in 12 patients. Conclusions-The modified Rashki nd umbrella can successfully be used to close both iatrogenic and natu rally occurring interatrial communications, particularly those present after the Fontan procedure.