What is the primary technology used in atrial septal defect closure?

The primary technology used in atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is transcatheter occlusion devices. These devices are specifically designed to close the defect by deploying a device through a catheter that is inserted into the heart via a blood vessel, usually in the leg.

Transcatheter occlusion devices consist of a mesh structure that can be expanded once it is in place, allowing it to fit snugly against the walls of the atrial septum. This results in the sealing off of the hole between the atria, effectively preventing blood from flowing through the ASD and reducing the complications associated with the defect, such as right heart volume overload and potential arrhythmias.

Balloon angioplasty devices are primarily used to dilate narrowed vessels rather than to close defects; pacer leads relate to pacing the heart but do not serve in closure procedures, and stenosis stents are intended to keep narrowed arteries open. Hence, they do not apply in the context of ASD closure. The specificity and functionality of transcatheter occlusion devices make them the cornerstone of managing atrial septal defects.