Therapeutic catheter procedures in congenital heart disease: current status and future prospects.

Advancing technology in catheterization techniques have allowed the development of several therapeutic procedures in patients with congenital heart disease. Some of these, such as atrial balloon septostomy, are well established. Others, such as pulmonary valve dilatation, patent ductus closure, and systemic-pulmonary collateral obliteration are currently being tried with success in many institutions. In the future, certain forms of coarctation, some intracardiac shunts and perhaps other anomalies may be suitable for therapy by catheter techniques.