BACKGROUND About 50% of patients with cryptogenic stroke have a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The recurrence rate of paradoxical embolism is higher if a PFO is detected. METHODS Thirty-five patients with PFO and > or = 1 thromboembolic event due to paradoxical embolism were included in the study (23 males, 12 females, mean age 47.8 +/- 14 years, mean weight 75 +/- 15 kg). Twenty-three patients ...

Embolization of the occlusion device after percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) is a potential disastrous complication. The usual site of embolization is the right side of the heart including pulmonary artery, but the device embolization to the extracardiac aorta is extremely rare. Here, we report a successful percutaneous retrieval case of the embolized Amplatzer Septal Occluder ...

PURPOSE For the successful completion of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer septal occluder, shape of the defects should be considered prior to selecting the device. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of a transcatheter closure of oval shaped atrial septal defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS From November 2009 until November 2011, cardiac computed to...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects and fenestrated Fontan with the Amplatzer septal occluder. METHODS Fifteen consecutive patients, with a significant interatrial communications, were considered for the procedure; four patients with defects that were too large or with deficient margins were excluded after initial transesoph...

BACKGROUND In an effort to reduce x-ray exposure, we developed a technique for transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects under echocardiographic guidance without fluoroscopy. To assess the efficiency of this procedure for routine use, we compared our initial results with those for the conventional procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-two randomly selected patients (median age 18 years; ...

BACKGROUND Device closure of Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is an accepted mode of treatment in selected patients with a suitable defect. The major initial concern over the long-term outcome has been erosions and more recently development of aortic regurgitation. Objective was to assess the intermediate and long term outcome of patients with device closure of ASD with special reference to ...

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) constitutes 6 to 11% of all congenital heart defects. While surgical ligation and video-assisted, thoracoscopic interruption of PDA are still available, transcatheter occlusion of PDAs has recently assumed a major role in closure of PDA. A large number of devices have been designed and tested both in animal models and human subjects, but only few devices (free and...