Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in adults using two devices: an angiographic overview
Andrew Maree1, Igor F Palacios, Rodrigo M Lago
1Interventional Cardiology Department, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are common heart abnormalities in adults. Percutaneous transcatheter closure is now an alternative to surgery for selected patients with symptomatic ASDs.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are a frequent congenital cardiac anomaly in adults.
- Individuals with ASDs face risks including right ventricle volume overload, pulmonary hypertension, and atrial fibrillation.
Observation:
- Historically, surgical repair was the standard treatment for symptomatic ASDs.
- Percutaneous transcatheter closure has emerged as a viable alternative for specific adult patients.
Findings:
- Transcatheter closure offers a less invasive option for managing atrial septal defects.
- This approach is suitable for selected adult patients requiring intervention.
Implications:
- Percutaneous closure expands treatment options for adult congenital heart disease.
- It may reduce the need for open-heart surgery in eligible patients.
Abstract:
Atrial septal defects are a common congenital cardiac abnormality in adults. lndividuals with atrial septal defects carry the risk to develop cardiac problems such as right ventricle volume overload, pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and more rarely paradoxical embolic events. Surgery was the standard treatment for symptomatic patients with atrial septal defects for decades. More recently, percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in adults using a closure device has become an alternative to surgery in selected patients.
