Endovascular closure of atrial septal defect

An atrial septal defect is the persistence of a hole (the foramen ovale) in the wall (septum) between the right atrium and left atrium of the heart. The foramen ovale usually closes spontaneously after birth; an atrial septal defect is present when this closure does not occur. In the most common type, called an ostium secundum atrial septal defect, the septum between the atria fails to form properly during foetal development, resulting in a permanent hole. An atrial septal defect allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium, thereby increasing the flow of blood to the lungs. This is known as a shunt. Patients with atrial septal defects are usually asymptomatic through infancy and childhood. Symptoms such as exertional dyspnoea, fatigue, palpitations and syncope can occur and increasing age carries a higher risk of stroke. Some patients may develop congestive heart failure.

Not all atrial septal defects require treatment, but it is generally agreed that larger defects and those associated with either symptoms or significant enlargement of the heart should be closed electively. Conventional surgery for atrial septal defect is performed through an incision in the front of the chest. After establishing cardiopulmonary bypass, the right atrium is opened to gain access to the interatrial septum. The defect is then repaired using a patch or stitches. Patients usually stay in hospital for several days after the operation.

Endovascular closure of an atrial septal defect involves making a small incision in the groin to introduce a guidewire and delivery sheath into the femoral vein. An occluder device is then introduced through the delivery sheath on a semi-rigid cable and expanded within the atrial septal defect to close it. Echocardiography and fluoroscopic guidance are used to determine the size and position of the defect and to place the occlude device. A balloon may be used to measure the diameter of the defect. Patients can usually go home the next day. Small residual shunts after the procedure often resolve as endothelial tissue grows over and around the device. The claimed advantages compared with open surgery are shorter hospital stay, earlier return to normal activities and fewer complications.

Three non-randomised controlled studies reported successful closure rates immediately after the endovascular procedure of 96% (423 out of 442), 98% (60 out of 61) and 97% (28 out of 29), compared with rates of 100% (154 out of 154), 98% (60 out of 61) and 100% (64 out of 64), respectively, for conventional surgery. A large case series of 3,460 patients reported that 97% (3,301 out of 3,391) of atrial septal defects were successfully closed immediately after the procedure. Of the 4% (147 out of 3,460) of patients followed up for 2 years in this study, all maintained successful closure. A further case series reported that 1% (4 out of 314) of patients had a significant residual shunt immediately after the procedure and 93% (99 out of 107) of patients had a successful closure 1 year after the procedure. For more details, see the overview.

The Specialist Advisors noted that a small proportion of patients might be left with a residual shunt.

The reported complication rates were low. They included malpositioning of the device, requiring endovascular or surgical retrieval 1% (6 out of 417) to 5% (16 out of 334); arrhythmia 0.4% (2 out of 459) to 5% (3 out of 61); embolisation of the device 0.4% (14 out of 3,460) to 4% (14 out of 334); thrombus formation 0.4% (1 out of 258) to 3% (1 out of 37); brachial plexus injury 3% (1 out of 39); right iliac vein dissection 0.6% (1 out of 159); stroke 0.1% (5 out of 3,460) to 0.3% (1 out of 334); cardiac tamponade 0.1% (2 out of 3,460); cardiac perforation 0.03% (1 out of 3,460); and endocarditis 0.03% (1 out of 3,460). For more details, see the overview.

The Specialist Advisors listed arrhythmias, stroke, device embolisation and cardiac tamponade as potential adverse effects of the procedure.

There is the potential for long-term adverse effects and clinicians should report these to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

These recommendations were based on evidence on the use of the Amplatzer, CardioSEAL, STARFlex and Helex devices for the endovascular closure of atrial septal defect. NICE may review the procedure if further data relating to other devices become available.