Amplatzer's occluder

The Amplatzer occluder is used to treat cardiac septal defects. Occluder is a double metal "basket" shaped coil, the most minimally invasive introduced under fluoroscopic control using a special catheter that when atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale closes interatrial septum and thus solves the resulting left to right shunt.

The occluder is catheterized through the right atrium through the defect into the left atrium, where its distal area develops, which is then pressed against the septum from the left. Similarly, a second area develops in the right atrium, resulting in an occluder encircling the atrial septum on both sides and filling the defect. "Amplatzer" is made of an alloy of nickel and titanium, it is not paramagnetic (it does not mind MRI examination). As a result, it looks like two disks connected by a narrow neck, the left slightly larger. The flowing blood coagulates in it after a while and fills the space, over time the epithelium grows through the occluder, the defect is completely healed.

Other types of Amplatzer occluders are used, for example, to deal with congenital and acquired defects of the ventricular septum, arteriovenous fistulas, ductus arteriosus and other defects. The use of the Amplatzer occluder is a safe and effective solution that replaces cardiac surgery in large quantities.



Related articles

 * Atrial septal defect
 * Foramen ovale patens
 * Ventricular septal defect

Resources

 * Catheter closure of the foramen ovale patens and atrial septal defect of the secundum type by the Amplatzer occluder