T. Podnar et al., Morphological variations of secundum-type atrial septal defects: Feasibility for percutaneous closure using amplatzer septal occluders, CATHET C IN, 53(3), 2001, pp. 386-391
The aim of the study was to assess the morphology of secundum-type atrial s
eptal defects (ASD) with a view to percutaneous closure using Amplatzer sep
tal occluders (ASO), One hundred and ninety patients who underwent closure
of isolated secundum-type ASD between September 1995 and January 2000 were
included. The morphology of the defects was studied using transthoracic and
transesophageal echocardiography, Patients with defects of suitable morpho
logy and size underwent percutaneous closure using ASO, The remaining patie
nts underwent surgical closure, Centrally placed defects were observed in 4
6 patients (24,2%), Morphological variations of secundum-type ASD were dete
cted in 144 patients (75.8%). One hundred and fifty-one patients (79.5%) un
derwent percutaneous closure using ASO. Thirty-nine patients (20.5%) underw
ent surgical closure. Centrally placed defects, defects with deficient supe
rior anterior rim, multiple defects, and perforated aneurysms of the intera
trial septum are morphological variations of secundum-type ASD suitable for
percutaneous closure using (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.