title: [Clinical analysis of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in elderly patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical feature of patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) and the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ASD in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2000 and June 2010, 82 patients aged (64.5 ± 3.8) years underwent attempted transcatheter ASD closure. Right heart catheterization was performed before intervention. Echocardiography was made at 1 day, 1, 3, 6 months after the procedure. The pre- and post-closure clinical feature, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and cardiac function were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 82 patients, 37 (45.1%) patients were associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The systolic PAP and mean PAP [(44.1 ± 12.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and (25.2 ± 6.8) mm Hg, respectively] were measured by right heart catheterization before the procedure. One patient was unsuitable for closure because of severe PAH. The remaining 81 patients underwent successful ASD closure without major complications. After closuring, systolic PAP decreased from (52.7 ± 10.3) mm Hg to (31.8 ± 6.3) mm Hg (P < 0.05), and mean PAP descended from (30.9 ± 4.7) mm Hg to (21.8 ± 3.4) mm Hg (P < 0.05) in the 36 patients with PAH. The cardiac function improved post procedure. There were 6 new-onset atrial fibrillations during follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASD in elderly patients are commonly associated with PAH. Transcatheter ASD closure is safe and effective in the majority of elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Congenital Heart Disease, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region, Shenyang 110016, China.
authors.forename: Huo-yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xian-yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiu-min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chuan-ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Duan-zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qi-guang
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-tang
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Chun-sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome