Objective: To describe the results of percutaneous closure by means of the Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) device in pediatric patients with intra-auricular communication (IAC).
Materials and methods: Descriptive transversal study in patients submitted to percutaneous closure of IAC from March 2005 to March 2013. Patients aged <16 years, weight>6 kg, IAC type ostium segundum, and patent foramen ovale, with border separations borders>5 mm, and absence of coexisting pathology were included in the study. We excluded from the study children with severe pulmonary blood pressure/arterial hypertension. Descriptive statistics with the SPSS v. 20.0 statistical software package.
Results: We included in the study 28 patients, feminine gender (n=19, 68%), median age=8 years (range, 4-14), weight 30.7 kg (range, 15-69). New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I (n=21, 75%), II (n=7, 25%). Median IAC size, 15.50 mm (range, 5-25), and a median ASO size of 17.54 mm (range, 8-28). After ASO placement, 100% presented NYHA I at one month, cardiac murmur (n=2, 7.1%), cessation of cardiac murmur at month 6 (n=28, 100%), without evidence of arrhythmias at one month 100%, residual short circuit at 24 hours (n=4, 14%), complete occlusion at month 6 (n=28, 100%), normalization size of VD, and cessation of tricuspid insufficiency 100% at one year. Complications included minimal bleeding during the procedure (n=2, 7%), transitory cephalea (n=5, 18%), and dysautonomia (n=1, 4%).
Conclusion: Percutaneous closure of IAC of children fitted with the ASO device is safe and exhibits good results.