Transcatheter membranous ventricular septal defect closure through a mechanical aortic prosthesis using the Amplatzer membranous ventricular septal defect occluder.

An iatrogenic ventricular septal defect (VSD) after aortic valve replacement is rare, but represents a significant complication. Repeat surgery to repair such a defect carries a high surgical risk. The transcatheter approach (either transvascular or transapical) could be considered as an alternative to open chest surgery. We describe the successful transcatheter closure of an iatrogenic VSD with an Amplatzer membranous VSD occluder in a patient with previous combined mitral and aortic mechanical valve replacements. The device was implanted through a CarboMedics mechanical valve in the aortic position. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.