Retrieval of an embolized septal occluder with minimal access
cardiothoracic surgery.
Abstract
Atrial septal device embolization within transcather structural heart
disease although rare is life threatening. We present a case of a
15-year-old female who presented with a large 17mm septum secundum
atrial septal defect associated with a left to right shunt and right
heart dilation. The closure with atrial septal occluder (ASO) embolised
into the left ventricle and couldn’t be retrieved by percutaneous
methods. This otherwise healthy young female underwent emergency
retrieval of the ASO via minimal access surgery with a right
anterolateral mini thoracotomy. It’s important to highlight the role of
minimal access surgery for retrieval of embolised percutaneous devices.