Impact of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in pediatric patients on body weight

Background/Purpose: Pediatric patients with atrial septal defect (ASD) may have failure to thrive. This study aimed to investigate body weight changes in pediatric patients after transcatheter closure of ASD. Methods: From June 2003 to September 2008, we enrolled 60 pediatric patients who underwent transcatheter closure of ASD. Changes in body weight percentile, heart rate, and resolution of right ventricular hypertrophy were compared before and after ASD closure. Patients were divided into two groups according to initial weight percentile: group A, < 50^th percentile (n = 39) and group B, ≥ 50 ^th percentile (n = 21). Echocardiography and routine weight measurements were performed before the procedure and at 3, 6, and 12 months during follow-up. Clinical presentations, laboratory data, and outcomes were measured. Results: Increased body weight percentile (41 ± 4 vs. 48 ± 4, p < 0.01), lower heart rate (100 ± 2 beats/min vs. 89 ± 2 beats/min, p < 0.01), and resolution of right ventricular hypertrophy (59/60 vs. 1/60, p < 0.01) were achieved after ASD closure at the 12-month follow-up. Patients in group A were significantly younger (4.6 ± 0.5 years vs. 7.0 ± 0.9 years, p = 0.016), had a higher pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio (2.2 ± 0.1 vs. 1.8 ± 0.1, p = 0.044), a larger ratio of ASD diameter/body surface area (25.0 ± 1.4 vs. 16.4 ± 1.9, p < 0.01), and higher percentage of weight gain increase ≥ 5 percentile compared with patients in group B (22/39 vs. 6/21, p = 0.039). Conclusion: Transcatheter closure of ASD positively affects weight gain. An increase of 7 percentile weight was observed at 1 year of follow-up. Patients with a younger age, higher pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio, and a larger ratio of ASD diameter/body surface area may have better weight gain after ASD closure.