An Arrhythmic Storm: A Potential Complication on Opening the Umbrella for Percutaneous Closure of Interatrial Communications

Interatrial communications (ICs) have been linked to paradoxic embolism, which may be prevented using both surgical and percutaneous interventions. The case of a 61-year-old woman with a history of transient cerebral ischemic attack who developed repetitive ventricular arrhythmias and an intermittent left branch bundle block immediately after percutaneous closure of an IC is described. Transthoracic echocardiography showed that the device had migrated into the left ventricular outflow tract, and the patient consequently underwent emergency cardiac surgery to retrieve the device and repair the IC. In conclusion, percutaneous transcatheter closure of ICs is more rapid and less invasive compared with surgery, but nevertheless may be associated with significant short-term morbidity.