Objective: Evaluation of the first results in the Netherlands of percutaneous and transvenous closure of an ASD II in children with an Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO).
Design: Prospective.
Method: Data were collected from children with an ASD II prior to, during and up to 24 months after the insertion of an ASO during heart catheterisation in Leiden University Hospital, the Netherlands.
Results: Between 1 January 1998 and 29 February 2000, 28 patients (12 girls, 16 boys; mean age: 74 months (range: 15-198 months)) underwent heart catheterisation to close an ASD II with an ASO. In 26 patients an ASO could be placed without significant complications. The size of the device varied from 9-34 mm (median 16 mm). In one patient ASD closure was not attempted because of multiple ASDs. In another patient the procedure was stopped after air embolism into the coronary arteries had occurred during preparation of ASO implantation. In 23/26 patients with an implanted ASO, no residual shunt was present after 24 hours. One child, in whom the defect was found to be closed after 24 hours and after three weeks, returned abroad and was lost to follow-up. After one year all defects (n = 22) were completely closed.
Conclusion: Percutaneous transvenous closure of an ASD II with an ASO was possible, was not associated with any significant complications and had a high success rate, even in relatively young children with large defects.