BackgroundThe aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and adverse events of percutaneous occlusion among patients with sufficient and deficient rims. MethodsA systematic review of all articles published in the Pubmed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases was performed. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were used as a measure of effect of the combination of studies. I2 with 95% CI was estimated to assess study heterogeneity. For the meta-analysis, a random effects model was used. ResultsThe systematic search identified ten studies which included 4355 patients; 2661 of those had sufficient rim and the remaining 1694 patients showed some rim deficiency. Implant failure rate was 4.13% CI 95% 3.53–4.72%. Compared to frequency of failures in the group with a deficient rim (5.43% CI 95% 4.35–6.50%), implant failure in patients with a sufficient rim was significantly lower (3.30% CI 95% 2.62–3.97%), OR 2.27 CI 1.34–3.83 (p 0.002).The combined adverse events were 5.19% CI 95% 4.22–6.35% vs 2.7% CI 95% 2.08–3.31% in the deficient vs sufficient rim groups respectively (OR 2.21 CI 0.93–5.29; p 0.07). Implant failures and adverse events were more frequent in patients with posterior inferior rim deficiency. ConclusionPatients presenting a posteroinferior rim deficiency are associated to both, an increased incidence of closure failure and a combined adverse events occurrence. More studies on posterior rim deficiency are necessary to ensure the feasibility and safety of the percutaneous approach.