Treatment

Pediatric Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Closure Devices

What You Need to Know

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a type of congenital heart disease, a heart condition your child is born with. ASD means there is a hole in the septum, the wall between the heart’s upper chambers (atria). ASD occurs when the baby’s wall does not form properly during pregnancy. The heart team at Children’s National Heart Center uses the latest cardiac catheterization technology to repair these defects.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the risks of ASD in children?

In children with ASD, the high-oxygen blood from the left side mixes with the low-oxygen blood from the right side of the heart. This mixing means that the heart has to work harder than it should. Unrepaired ASD can lead to a number of problems, including:

Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias)
High blood pressure
Leaky valves
Right side of heart enlarging, which could lead to heart failure

What ASD Closure Devices are used at Children's National Hospital?

Our cardiac catheterization team helps children avoid the need for surgery by using one of the advanced catheterization treatments available. To close the ASD, we choose the closure device that best suits your child. There are two FDA-approved devices available in the United States.

AMPLATZER® Septal Occluder
GORE® HELEX® Septal Occluder

This minimally invasive procedure means your child has less pain, a more comfortable recovery and a quicker return to daily activities. As your child grows, his or her own tissue grows over the implant as it becomes part of your child’s heart.

What can my child expect from the AMPLATZER® and GORE® HELEX® Septal Occluder?

These two devices work in similar ways, though there are slight differences in design. We will discuss with you the benefits of each device and choose the one that offers your child the best outcome. Our team has extensive experience with each device.

On the day of the procedure, our expert pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist will place your child under sedation. He or she will not feel any pain. The anesthesiologist will continue to monitor your child during the procedure. Learn more about anesthesia at Children’s National.

While each child’s procedure is different, here’s a general idea of what you can expect. We will:

Attach the occluder device to a catheter (a long, thin tube).
Insert the catheter into a blood vessel near your child’s groin.
Thread the catheter to the heart and locate the site of the defect.
Push the occluder device out of the catheter and into place, where it covers the edges of the defect to seal it closed.
Remove the catheter and close the incision.
Transfer your child to our comfortable, child-friendly Cardiac Procedure Recovery Unit (CPRU), where our experienced pediatric nursing team will provide expert recovery care.
Discuss discharge, recovery and follow-up instructions with you.