Catheter closure of atrial septal and ventricular septal defects using the Amplatzer devices

The Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) is a device that combines the advantages of being a double-disc with a self-centering mechanism. It is the first and only device to ever receive full approval for clinical use in children and adults with secundum atrial septal defects (AD) from the United States Food and Drug Administration. It has been used successfully to close secundum ASDs, patent foramen avale and Fontan fenestrations. The first patient to undergo closure with the ASO was approximately 6 years ago. So far the mid-term results are very encouraging with no long-term complications for the presence of the device. Complications encountered with the use of the Amplatzer septal occluder are rare and most may be managed in the catheter laboratory. Most of the complications occur in the immediate period post-implantation. The Amplatzer muscular and membranous ventricular septal defect devices are still undergoing clinical trials in the United States; however, they are fully approved in many countries. Long-term results about safety and efficacy, as well as results involving larger defects are being collected.