Feasibility of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects in adults under transthoracic echocardiography guidance using the Figulla atrial septal defect occluder device

BACKGROUND: Closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) among adults under transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidance using devices other than the Amplatzer Septal Occluder has not been extensively tested. AIM OF WORK: Assessment of the safety and efficiency of secundum ASD closure using the Occlutech Figulla ASD Occluder under TTE guidance in adult patients with hemodynamically significant secundum ASD. METHODS: Twenty patients (mean age, 32.9 ± 9.7, 75% of them females) were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent TTE and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to assess the characteristics of the ASD prior to percutaneous closure. Procedures were performed using the Figulla Occluder device under both fluoroscopic and TTE guidance. Follow-up clinical and TTE examinations were done at 1, 3, and 6 months following the procedure. RESULTS: TTE estimated mean ASD size was 21.7 ± 7.3 mm with adequate rims except for the aortic rim (deficient in one third of cases). Mean device size was 28.1 ± 8.6 mm with mean procedure and fluoroscopic times of 46.2 ± 16.4 and 15.7 ± 5.4 minutes respectively. ASD was successfully closed in all patients. Two patients showed a small residual shunt immediately after the device placement that disappeared by the end of the 2nd followup TTE examination. Transient complications were detected in 2 patients. All patients were asymptomatic during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure of secundum ASD in adults under TTE guidance using the Occlutech Figulla ASD occluder device is safe and effective when performed in a tertiary center and by expert echocardiographers and interventional cardiologists.