Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs) is an ever more common treatment modality in selected patients. Device erosion is a rare but often fatal complication of this therapy, which usually presents early in the post-procedure course. We describe the case of a patient presenting with chest pain and shock in whom early recognition and intervention prevented a negative outcome. Awareness of this potentially lethal complication is important as the population of patients undergoing percutaneous procedures for structural heart disease continues to grow.
Learning points: As the number of patients undergoing percutaneous atrial septal defect closure increases, so too will the volume presenting with late complications.Early recognition and intervention in cases of device erosion is critical to prevent death.
Keywords: Cardiac tamponade; atrial septal defect; late erosion; percutaneous ASD occlusion; structural heart disease.
© EFIM 2020.