Safety and effectiveness of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects: Initial results in Fukushima Prefecture.

BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defect is the third most common type of congenital heart disease. Surgical closure was the standard treatment for atrial septal defects before transcatheter closure was approved as minimally invasive treatment in Japan in 2006. In our hospital, this procedure has been performed since 2015.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in our hospital.

METHODS: Thirty patients (mean age 57.0 ± 19.7 years, 11 males), who underwent transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect between September 2015 and February 2018 at the Fukushima Medical University Hospital, were enrolled. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with angiographic and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. Safety and effectiveness were evaluated by the procedural results and complications.

RESULTS: All 30 patients successfully underwent transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects and no patient developed complications. New York Heart Association functional class was improved, and the right ventricular area and right atrium area were decreased, postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure is a safe and effective treatment for atrial septal defects, and thus could be an alternative option to open heart surgery.