Jugular approach for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Access

Background:

• Percutaneous closure is a standard treatment for atrial septal defects.
• The right femoral vein is the primary access route for these procedures.

Observation:

• In 3 out of 142 cases, the right femoral vein approach was insufficient.
• Azygos continuation and challenging septal anatomy were identified as reasons for failure.

Findings:

• An alternative percutaneous vascular approach using the internal jugular vein was successfully employed in these challenging cases.
• Device implantation was achieved in all procedures, including those requiring the alternative approach.

Implications:

• The internal jugular vein serves as a viable alternative access route for percutaneous atrial septal defect closure.
• This expands treatment options for patients with complex anatomy or access difficulties.