Published Online
on February 20, 2009

A more recent version of this article appeared on April 1, 2009

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 2/2/85    most recent CIRCINTERVENTIONS.108.814046v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jategaonkar, S. R. Articles by Horstkotte, D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Jategaonkar, S. R. Articles by Horstkotte, D. Related Collections Catheter-based coronary and valvular interventions: other Pediatric and congenital heart disease, including cardiovascular surgery Related Articles

Original Article

Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects: Echocardiographic and Functional Results in Elderly Patients over 60 Years

Smita R. Jategaonkar; Werner Scholtz; Henning Schmidt and Dieter Horstkotte¹

Ruhr University Bochum

¹ E-mail: akohlstaedt{at}hdz-nrw.de

Background—Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) is well established in children and adults and found to improve symptoms and positively influence right-heart remodelling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and long-term outcome in adult patients older than 60 years.

Methods and Results—96 patients in the age group of 60 - 84 years were included in this study. Percutaneous closure was performed effectively in all patients. Functional capacity according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) and peak oxygen uptake in the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) improved significantly after ASD closure, especially in patients with a Qp:Qs > 2. Echocardiographic measurements of the right ventricular enddiastolic diameter showed a significant decrease. No device associated complications were observed, but in 16 patients paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) occurred after device implantation.

Conclusions—Percutaneous ASD closure can be performed safely and with minimal risk even in elderly patients. They profit in terms of symptom-reduction, improvement of exercise capacity and right-heart remodelling.

Key Words: catheterization • heart septal defects • atrial septal defect • elderly

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Not Just Big Kids: Closing Atrial Septal Defects in Adults Older Than 60 Years

Giuseppe Martucci and Michael Landzberg
Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2009 2: 83-84. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defects: Echocardiographic and Functional Results in Patients Older Than 60 Years

Smita Jategaonkar, Werner Scholtz, Henning Schmidt, and Dieter Horstkotte
Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2009 2: 85-89. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Martucci and M. Landzberg Not Just Big Kids: Closing Atrial Septal Defects in Adults Older Than 60 Years Circ Cardiovasc Interv, April 1, 2009; 2(2): 83 - 84. [Full Text] [PDF]