ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We sought to prospectively evaluate long-term follow-up results of intracardiac echocardiography-aided transcatheter closure of complex atrial septal defects (ASD) in the adults. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Prospective multicenter registry in tertiary care hospitals. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Over a 5-year period, we prospectively enrolled 56 patients (mean age 49 ± 16.7 years, 24 females) who have been referred to our center for catheter-based closure of complex secundum ASD (> 25 mm diameter, deficiency of ≥ 1 rim, multiple secundum ASD, multiperforated ASD, associated incomplete floor of the fossa ovalis with or without aneurysm, embryonic remnants of incomplete atrial septation). All patients were screened by means of transesophageal echocardiography before the operation. Eligible patients underwent intracardiac echocardiography study and closure attempt. RESULTS: Forty patients underwent a transcatheter closure attempt: transesophageal echocardiography-planned device type and size were modified in 32 patients (64%). Rates of procedural success, predischarge occlusion, and major complications rate were 100%, 90%, and 2%, respectively. On mean follow-up of 5.4 ± 1.8 years, the follow-up occlusion rate was 98%. During follow-up, only one case of permanent atrial fibrillation was observed. There were no cases of aortic/atrial erosion, device thrombosis, or new atrioventricular valve dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Intracardiac echocardiography-guided complex secundum ASD transcatheter closure is safe and effective and appears to have excellent long-term results, thus minimizing potential complications resulting from the complex anatomy.
