OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to close muscular ventricular septal defects (MVSDs) in children, with a new device, the Amplatzer ventricular septal defect occluder (AVSDO). BACKGROUND The design of previously used devices for transcatheter closure of MVSDs is not ideal for this purpose and their use has been limited by several drawbacks. METHODS Six patients, aged 3 to 10 years, with...

OBJECTIVE To review our experience with, and profile the safety and efficacy of, the Amplatzer PFO (patent foramen ovale) occluder (APO) and Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) used to close PFO and/or atrial septal defect (ASD) in patients with paradoxical embolism (PE). PATIENTS AND METHODS Between April 1998 and November 2002, 103 patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, and Scottsdale,...

bioengineered septal occluder devices (7). These devices showed rapid complete neo-endothelialization. The scaffold can be heparin-coated in order to decrease further the thrombogenicity of the implant surface. The basic concept of this evolving device, however, is its biodegradability. Especially in children with an expected implant persistence of some 80 years, the degradation of the implant ...

BACKGROUND Recent advances in miniaturization of phased-array and mechanical ultrasound devices have resulted in exploration of alternative approaches to cardiac and vascular imaging in the form of transesophageal or intravascular imaging. Preliminary efforts in adapting phased-array endoscopes designed for transesophageal use to a transvascular approach have used full-sized phased-array device...

BACKGROUND Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) has been accepted world-wide as an alternative to surgical closure with excellent results. This interventional, non-surgical technique plays an important role in the treatment of ASD mostly in the developing world where resources are limited. OBJECTIVES To report the outcomes and short term follow-up of transcatheter closure of A...

Lutembacher's syndrome is a rare combination of atrial septal defect (ASD) and rheumatic mitral stenosis. Traditionally, this condition is treated surgically. We present a case of Lutembacher's syndrome that was successfully treated with percutaneous transcatheter mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using the Inoue balloon. Closure of ASD was successfully achieved with an Amplatzer atrial septal occlu...

BACKGROUND Despite several reports regarding the use of the Occlutech Figulla® Flex septal occluder (OFFSO) in adults, there are few reports on its use in children. We sought to study the result of the transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) using the OFFSO in children ≤12 years. METHODS We enrolled 45 consecutive patients, ranging from 2.5 to 12 years of age, in two large pediatr...

Background. Recent advances in miniaturization of phased-array and mechanical ultrasound devices have resulted in exploration of alternative approaches to cardiac and vascular imaging in the form of transesophageal or intravascular imaging. Preliminary efforts in adapting phased-array endoscopes designed for transesophageal use to a transvascular approach have used full-sized phased-array devic...