Here today, gone tomorrow: Outcomes of residual leak following secundum atrial septal defect closure with the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the outcomes and potential predictors of residual leak after implantation of the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder (GSO) in secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs).

BACKGROUND

The non-self-centering design of the GSO could lead to residual leak at the edge of the device. Outcomes of residual leak are poorly understood.

METHODS

Retrospective, multicenter review of patients treated with the GSO for the pivotal and continued access study. Procedural, echocardiographic, and follow up data were reviewed. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine predictors of leak at implant and outcomes of these leaks.

RESULTS

There were 370 total ASD device closures with the GSO, 65 (17.56%) of which were found to have residual leak at implantation. Patients with residual leak had larger defects (10.33 ± 3.05 mm vs. 9.13 ± 2.89 mm, p = .006) and smaller aortic rims (4.87 ± 3.33 mm vs. 6.17 ± 3.78 mm, p = .019), as compared to those without leak. Larger devices were implanted (p = .008) and more devices per case (p = .007) were utilized in the residual leak cohort as compared to those without leak. Overall, among patients with residual leak, there was a significant decrease in leak size over 1 year, from 1.55 ± 0.75 mm to 0.25 ± 0.74 mm (p < .001), with the majority (87.6%) disappearing by 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual leak at implantation can be seen after ASD device closure with the GSO, more commonly in larger defects with smaller retroaortic rims. The vast majority of these leaks completely resolve by 1 year follow up.