Comparison of surgical and by transcatheter methods of closure of atrial septal defect based on the two year experience.

Our study was designed to compare surgical and transcatheter methods of treatment of frequent congenital malformation: atrial septal defect. Overall, during two year period 45 patients enrolled this study. 36 where referred to surgical treatment, 9 - to interventional. In most of the cases the choice of treatment method was made pre procedurally based on malformation anatomy. Both correction methods proved to be safe and effective. As our study shows the closure success rate is identical for both methods for appropriately selected patients. Residual shunts where haemodynamically insignificant and never needed re-operation. Both procedures have approximately similar major complication prevalence. The main differences were absence of the need for blood transfusion products, morbidity, and length of hospital stay, as well as the cost of treatment. All of them are in favour of Amplatzer device closure. Based on this information we can conclude that all patients feasible for transcatheter treatment should be treated by means of this procedure.