ABSTRACT
Percutaneous transvenous closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs), patent foramen ovale (PFO), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has become feasible in recent years. Latergeneration devices have largely overcome initial difficulties and may now be deployed with high procedural success and low complication rates. The advent of a nonsurgical therapeutic option for a wide range of atrial septal and ductal pathology has lowered the threshold for intervention, and such procedures are now commonplace. This chapter will give a brief overview of percutaneous closure of ASDs, PFO, and PDA, including clinical indications, patient selection, and technical details, as well as potential pitfalls and their solutions. There have been a series of devices in use for percutaneous closure of congenital pathologies. The Amplatzer range of devices was not the first, and may not be the last; however, it is currently in the most widespread use due to several advantageous design features. For the sake of simplicity and to reflect current clinical practice, discussion will be limited to these devices.
