INTERVENTIONAL CLOSURE OF ATRIAL SEPTAL-DEFECTS WITH THE AMPLATZER(R)DEVICE - FIRST CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE

We report our initial experience in three children with percutaneous t ransvenous closure of significant atrial septal defects. A newly devel oped one-piece nitinol device is delivered through a long venous sheat h of 7 French calibre under fluoroscopic and transoesophageal echocard iographic monitoring. Complete closure of all defects was verified by echocardiography on the morning after the procedure. No complication o ccurred. In the first two patients, the device slipped sideways into t he defect. This was easily discovered and corrected: Our experience sh ows that the Amplatzer(R) device is reliable, easy to implant, and pre sents very clearly on transoesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscop y. This makes implantation a controlled procedure. Until release, the device can easily be retracted into the sheath at any time and removed . The results suggest that closure of an atrial septal defect with thi s device is feasible, rapid, and safe.