Role of "buttoned" double-disc device in the management of atrial septal defects

Sixteen patients seen over a 9-month period ending in August 1990 were offered transcatheter closure of their ASD with a custom-made "buttoned" double-disc device. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and informed consent was obtained in each case. The device consists of an occluder, a counteroccluder, and a loading wire and is delivered to the ASD site via an 8F sheath. Parents of two children elected surgical closure. In five children the stretched diameter of the ASD was too large (greater than 20 mm) and transcatheter closure was not attempted. These seven children underwent elective surgical closure without incident. In one child the defect measured 5 mm and the Qp:Qs was 1.4:1 and therefore ASD closure was not recommended. In the remaining eight children transcatheter closure was attempted. In two of the children the occluder pulled through the ASD and was successfully retrieved and the children later underwent uneventful elective surgical closure. The device was implanted across the ASD in six children. In one child the device dislodged from the ASD site within minutes after implantation and the child was sent to emergency surgery, where the device was removed and the ASD was closed. In the remaining five patients, aged 7 months to 45 years (weight 3.6 to 50 kg), with a Qp:Qs range of 1.3 to 2.3 and a stretched diameter of 10 to 19 mm, the ASD closure was successful with 25 to 40 mm size devices. Repeat echo-Doppler studies 2 weeks and 3 months after the procedure in all patients and 6 months later in two children did not reveal any residual shunt. It is concluded that (1) the custom-made "buttoned" double-disc device can be implanted across the ASD safely and effectively via an 8F sheath, thus making transcatheter ASD closure feasible even in very young infants; (2) measurement of stretched diameter of the ASD in the catheterization laboratory is a useful guide for selection of an appropriate-sized device; and (3) additional clinical trials are warranted to confirm the efficacy and safety of the device.