Effect of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect on cardiac electric remodeling

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the intermediate- and short-term effects of transcatheter secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure on cardiac electric remodeling in children and adults. Methods: Fifty patients with secundum ASD referred for possible transcatheter device closure were subjected to history taking, proper physical examination, electrocardiographic assessment, and transthoracic echocardiographic examination and were evaluated before the ASD closure, 1 day, 3 months, and 6 months after closure. Results: During the 6-month follow-up, electrocardiographic parameters of remodeling were improved. P dispersion decreased from 49.73 ± 9.01 ms to 30.53 ± 5.08 ms (P = 0.004), QT dispersion decreased from 67.60 ± 5.31 to 51.13 ± 5.73 ms (P = 0.003), QRS duration decreased from 134.40 ± 4.97 ms to 116.20 ± 3.47 ms (P = 0.002), and PR interval decreased from 188.87 ± 6.06 ms to 168.00 ± 6.16 ms (P = 0.002). Electric remodeling was associated with remodeling of the cardiac chambers. At the end of follow-up, the right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic dimension decreased from 25.67 ± 5.50 mm to 17.80 ± 2.70 mm (P = 0.001) the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension increased from 33.17 ± 6.44 mm to 37.53 ± 5.15 mm (P = 0.002), mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 16.97 ± 3.37 mmHg to 9.22 ± 1.37 mmHg (P = 0.000), and RV systolic pressure decreased from 30.77 ± 4.69 mmHg to 18.8 ± 2.11 mmHg. After 6 months, 93.3% of the patients had normal RV size. Conclusion: Transcatheter ASD device closure leads to a significant improvement in the right-sided chambers' dimension and function and can reverse electrical changes in atrial and ventricular myocardium in children and adults after correcting hemodynamic status in short- and intermediate-term follow-up.