Late tissue erosion after transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect

We present the case of a 27-year-old male presenting with sudden-onset retrosternal chest pain, dyspnea, and cardiac tamponade due to erosion of an Amplatzer Atrial Septal Occluder (ASO) through the left atrial wall 4 years after placement. Emergent surgical management of the hemopericardium, followed by surgical removal of the device, repair of the left atrial wall perforation, and patch closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD) were performed successfully. Tissue erosion leading to hemopericardium and cardiac tamponade should be suspected in subjects with a history of transcatheter ASD closure who present with acute chest pain or dyspnea and signs of hemodynamic instability © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.