Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects using the GORE^® Septal Occluder in Children Less Than 10 kg of Body Weight

The GORE^® Septal Occluder (GSO) is a well-evaluated device for interventional ASD closure with closure rates comparable to the Amplatzer^® Septal Occluder (ASO), but there are no published reports of its use in small children weighing less than 10 kg. This may be due to the necessity of a large-sized introducing sheath of at least 10 Fr and therefore the assumed risk of complications in vascular access. The GSO is an alternative option for interventional ASD closure in children weighing less than 10 kg. Fourteen infants and children with a median body weight 8900 g (range 6350–9650 g) underwent successful ASD closure using the GSO. The closure was performed under fluoroscopic and transthoracic echocardiographic guidance. Postprocedure, the vessels passed by the occluder and delivery catheter were examined by duplex sonography. The median ASD diameter was 11 mm (5–17 mm), and the median GSO size was 22.5 mm (15–30 mm), whereas the median ASO left disc size that would have been recommended was 25 mm (17–31 mm). All ASDs were successfully closed. During a median follow-up of 1.57 years (range 0.5–4.2), no complications like erosion, embolization, arrhythmias, or vascular injuries occurred. Although using a 10-Fr introducer sheath, no vascular complications were detected. Our data suggest that the small usable size as well as the soft and flexible design of the device allows successful use of the GSO in young children.