Short-Term and Midterm Follow-Up of Transthoracic Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defect in Infants.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to outline the safety and feasibility of transthoracic device closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) with a domestic occluder in infants.

METHODS

Sixty-eight infants underwent transthoracic device closure of an ASD at Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China from January 2010 to January 2015. All relevant clinical data were recorded and analyzed. All patients were invited to undergo contrast transthoracic echocardiography for 12 to 60 months after ASD closure, and telephone interviews were conducted with the infants' parents to evaluate the patients' clinical status further.

RESULTS

All patients had successful ASD occlusion using this approach. The most frequent complication was transient cardiac arrhythmia, which was easily treated or automatically recovered during the perioperative period. During the follow-up period, no recurrence, thrombosis, device embolization, valve damage, device failure, or death was reported. The total occlusion rate was 100% in the 12 months of follow-up, and all patients showed significant improvement in their clinical status. From transthoracic echocardiographic data, intracardiac structure and cardiac function were significantly improved at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Transthoracic device closure of an ASD with a domestic occluder in infants is a safe and feasible technique. The short- and medium-term follow-up results were satisfactory, but long-term follow-up is required to assess the safety and feasibility of this method in infants more accurately.