Long-Term Outcomes After Percutaneous Closure of Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in the Young: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to assess procedural characteristics, early clinical outcome, and long-term complications after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in children.

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter closure has become the preferred strategy in most cases of isolated secundum ASD. However, reported experience in the pediatric population is limited.

METHODS

A 1998 to 2016 retrospective multicenter study was performed in 9 French tertiary institutions. All children who had an attempt of percutaneous ASD closure with an Amplatzer Septal Occluder were included.

RESULTS

In 1,326 children (39% males; median age, 9 years [0.7 to 18]; weight, 29 kg [3.6 to 92]), transcatheter ASD closure was performed. Median ASD size was 15 mm (3 to 41); 254 (19.1%) patients had a large ASD (≥20 mm/m2). Procedural success rate was 95.3% (95% confidence interval: 93.9% to 96.3%). No death was observed but periprocedural complications occurred in 24 patients (1.8%). After a median follow-up of 3.5 years (range 6 months to 18 years; 173 patients [13%] followed >10 years), delayed major complications were minimal (n = 12; 1.04%) including no death and/or cardiac erosion. Periprocedural and delayed complications rates were significantly higher in children ≤15 kg (5.2% vs. 1.5%; p = 0.007 and 3.1% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.007, respectively) and those with large ASD (3.5% vs. 1.4%; p = 0.008 and 1.7% vs. 0.7%; p = 0.052, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Transcatheter ASD closure using Amplatzer Septal Occluder is safe in children with a minimal rate of periprocedural complications and a favorable long-term outcome, especially with no death or cardiac erosion despite a substantial proportion of large defects. Children ≤15 kg and those with large ASDs had a greater risk of complications.