Creation of an intra‐atrial communication with a new Amplatzer shunt prosthesis: Preliminary results in a swine model

A nitinol shunt device was applied in six minipigs to create a precise intra‐atrial shunt. This self‐expanding shunt device consists of two retention disks of 2–8 mm, a 4 mm connecting waist with a 10 mm eccentric hole. It requires a 7 Fr introducer sheath. The device is attached to the delivery cable with a microscrew. Placement technique is identical to that of Amplatzer septal occluder. Balloon dilation was performed immediately and 1 month after placement. One animal died from general anesthesia before device placement. Left atrial angiography showed a patent intra‐atrial shunt in 5/5 pigs immediately and 4/4 in 1‐ to 3‐month follow up. Postmortem examination demonstrated patent shunts partially or completely neoendothelialized. The shunt device was found to be an effective and safe way to create a permanent atrial communication. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;56:267–271. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.