REVIEW PAPER
Amplatzer occluders – a breakthrough in the interventional treatment of congenital heart defects. 27 years of experience
 
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1
Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Defects, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical
 
2
University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2024-10-24
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-02-07
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-02-11
 
 
Publication date: 2025-05-29
 
 
Corresponding author
Jacek Białkowski
Prof Jacek Białkowski, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Defects, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland
 
 
Pediatr Pol 2025;61(2):157-160
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This review synthesizes the experience of a single institution in the percutaneous closure of the most common congenital heart defects – atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) – using Amplatzer devices. For ASD, more than 2,000 procedures have been performed. Special attention is given to the age limits for this procedure. In the case of small PDAs, a documented shift in strategy from coils to the new Amplatzer Duct Occluder II Additional Sizes has occurred. The Amplatzer Duct Occluder type I remains the best device for closing larger PDAs (diameter > 2.5 mm). The most challenging percutaneous procedures remain VSD closures. Muscular VSDs (though less frequent) are likely the preferred candidates for this method, whereas perimembranous VSD closures remain a controversial issue. The article also describes an educational program for training foreign interventional cardiologists. In conclusion, the introduction of Amplatzer occluders into clinical practice represents a true breakthrough in the treatment of selected congenital heart defects.
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