The parallel wire technique for septal defect closure

• Published in: Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions Vol. 71; no. 4; pp. 564 - 567
• Main Authors: Chiam, Paul TL, Cohen, Howard A, Ruiz, Carlos E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.03.2008
• Subjects: atrial; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - instrumentation; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Coronary Angiography; Equipment Design; heart septal defects; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - diagnostic imaging; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; patent foramen ovale; percutaneous; Radiography, Interventional; Treatment Outcome; ventricular
• ISSN: 1522-1946; 1522-726X
• DOI: 10.1002/ccd.21449

Percutaneous closure of sedundum atrial septal defects (ASD) has been shown to be safe and effective. Usually crossing the defect is relatively straightforward. Occasionally, with fenestrated ASDs, trying to cross the defect(s) may be challenging. We report the use of a “paralle wire” (0.018 or 0.014 inch wire) technique to maintain access and be able to recross the same defect easily in case of misplacement until just before the device was secured and released. This technique could be used also as a “body wire” for large ASDs with deficient rims to reduce the incidence of device prolapse, and for patent foramen ovale and ventricular septal defect closures. This is a simple and easily reproducible method with the equipment readily available in virtually all catheterization laboratories. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.