Transseptal puncture through Amplatzer septal occluder device for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: use of balloon dilatation technique.

Transseptal puncture is required for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. We report on a 59-year-old woman presenting with atrial fibrillation after transcatheter closure of a large-sized secundum atrial septal defect with an Amplatzer septal occluder. Direct transseptal access through the device was achieved with the aid of an angioplasty balloon and atrial fibrillation was successfully ablated. Such an approach of transseptal puncture can facilitate obtaining left atrial access in complicated intervention procedures.