Transcatheter Amplatzer duct occluder closure of direct right pulmonary to left atrium communication

Although rare, a congenital direct communication between pulmonary artery and left atrium can present a paradoxical embolism in adults. In our case, diagnosis was first made on contrast transcranial Doppler with Valsalva maneuver and subsequently confirmed by intracardiac echocardiography and selective pulmonary angiography. Successful catheter‐based closure using Amplatzer duct occluder device resulted in definitive exclusion of the source of paradoxical embolism. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2003;58:107–110. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.