[Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer® device: 15 years of experience]. / Cierre percutáneo de la comunicación interauricular con el dispositivo Amplatzer(®): 15 años de experiencia.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects is an alternative to surgical treatment. OBJECTIVES: We report the results of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer(®) device. METHOD: We include patients taken to the catheterization laboratory from September 1997 to December 2011. RESULTS: We proceeded with defect closure in 721 patients and in 85 the defect was considered not suitable for closure. The stretched diameter of the defect was 23±6.7mm (limits, 5-42). All devices were positioned successfully. In 15 cases (2.1%) the device was changed due to instability and in 6 (0.8%) the device embolized within the first 24h, 4 were retrieved and repositioned (final success with intention to treat 719/806-89.2%). Immediate control showed complete closure in 247 patients (34.3%), leak through the device in 395 (54.9%), mild residual leak in 75 (10.4%) and moderate in 2 (0.3%). We have follow-up in 626 patients (87.1%) for 33±27.5 months, with headache in 54 (8.6%), new supraventricular arrhythmia in 10 (1.6%), puncture site complications in 4 (0.6%), and stroke in one (0.1%). CONCLUSION: The design of the Amplatzer(®) device allows effective closure of atrial septal defects with a simple technique and patient safety.