Late embolisation of an atrial septal occluder device in the abdominal aorta

Percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect (sASD) - which is the most common in adult congenital heart disease - is considered to be the first treatment option but can involve early and late complications. We report on the late embolization of a device to the abdominal aorta, 12 months after successful percutaneous closure of sASD. A 63-year-old woman, who suffered from stomach ache, was found to have an ASD occluder device in her abdominal aorta. Although surgical intervention to remove the embolisation may be considered, medical follow-up and re-intervention of percutaneous closure may be feasible for inappropriate cases.