Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect and left atrial appendage.

Intracardiac defects such as atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) are common forms of congenital intracardiac apertures which can be successfully closed percutaneously. Since the initial description of an atrial septal defect closure device in the mid 1970s by King and Mills, transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovale using various devices has now become an established practice in many centers. The left atrial appendage is a trabeculated remnant of the embryonic left atrium. This is an important source of emboli related to atrial fibrillation. Closure of the left atrial appendage is designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. This article reviews the current indications and latest developments in catheter closure of PFO, ASD and left atrial appendage.