Comparison of results of closure of secundum atrial septal defect by surgery versus amplatzer septal occluder

Surgical repair remains the standard for closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). Although satisfactory results have been reported for transcat heter occlusion of these defects with a number of devices,(1-5) few studies have directly compared transcatheter occlusion with surgical repair.(6,7) This study reports our experience with contemporary cohorts of patients fro m a single institution treated surgically or with the Amplatzer septal occl uder (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, Minnesota).