Device closure of ventricular septal defects

The vast majority of ventricular septal defects can be closed surgically with little morbidity or mortality. There is a small subset of defects (muscular defects, patch margin defects, fenestrated patch defects and post-infarct ventricular septal ruptures) in which surgical closure carries a significantly higher morbidity and mortality. For these defects, transcatheter closure techniques have been developed to close or significantly reduce shunting with low morbidity and mortality. Currently, two devices are available for defect closure, the CardioSEAL™ Starflex septal occluder and the Amplatzer™ ventricular septal defect occluder. Techniques for closure and current results are discussed.