Late erosion of Amplatzer Septal Occluder device 9 years after the implantation: a case report

Cardiac erosion is a rare but life-threatening complication after the interventional closure of an atrial septal defect. We present the case of a patient who developed cardiac erosion 9 years after the placement of an Amplatzer Septal Occluder. The patient presented to our hospital with symptoms of tamponade. Surgical exploration revealed a tear in the roof of the left atrium. To our knowledge, this is one of the most delayed presentations reported. In these cases, diagnosis is difficult and a level of clinical suspicion is demanded. Interventional closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) with a transcatheter device is the preferred strategy in most patients [1].