title: Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in a geriatric population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) in patients over 70 years of age.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Transcatheter closure of ASD is an established procedure in children and young adults, but the benefits of this procedure in geriatric patients are still unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2005 and 2010, 430 patients with ASD underwent transcatheter closure in our hospital. Among those patients, 30 consecutive patients older than 70 years of age were prospectively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age at procedure was 75.8 ± 3.8 years (range: 70-85 years). Mean Qp/Qs was 2.4 ± 0.7 and mean ASD diameter was 20.3 ± 6.4 mm. Nine patients (30%) had a history of hospitalization due to heart failure. ASD closure was successfully performed in 28 patients (93%) without significant complications. During the follow-up period (mean period of 19.1 ± 11.3 months), New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class was significantly improved in 20 patients (74%). Significant improvements of plasma BNP level, resting heart rate, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure were also observed. Improvement of tricuspid regurgitation was observed in 11 of 17 patients with moderate or severe regurgitation during the follow-up period. Conversely, worsening of mitral regurgitation was observed in 10 of the 27 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transcatheter closure of ASD in geriatric patients can be performed safely. This procedure contributes to significant improvement of symptoms and positive cardiac remodeling. Long-term follow-up is mandatory, especially for patients with mitral regurgitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Teiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kijima
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Kengo F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sano
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain