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Recurrent Strokes After Gore Septal Occluder Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defect
Adnan Alhadlaq1, Arif Hussain2, Camille Hancock Friesen3
1Pediatric Cardiology, Chest Disease Hospital, Kuwait Ministry of Health, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
Insights
Recurrent strokes in a teenager were linked to a Gore Septal Occluder device used for atrial septal defect closure. The device caused injury, leading to clot formation and brain embolization.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are commonly closed using occluder devices.
- Teenagers with congenital heart defects require careful monitoring post-intervention.
Observation:
- A healthy teenager experienced recurrent strokes after ASD closure with a Gore Septal Occluder.
- The occluder device's disk was implicated in the adverse events.
Findings:
- The Gore Septal Occluder disk caused friction injury to the left atrial endocardium.
- This injury promoted thrombus formation, leading to cerebral embolization.
Implications:
- Device-induced endocardial injury can be a cause of thromboembolism.
- Surgical intervention may be necessary to manage complications from cardiac closure devices.
Abstract:
We report a case of recurrent strokes in a healthy teenager after complete closure of atrial septal defect with Gore Septal Occluder (W.L. Gore and Associates, Newark, DE) device. The disk of the device produced a friction injury to the left atrial endocardium promoting thrombus formation with subsequent embolization to the brain requiring surgical intervention.
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