The impact of percutaneous interatrial shunt closure

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) and patent foramen ovale (PFOs) are both interatrial septal defects, which are among the most common congenital heart diseases in children and adults. When indicated for closure, the first choice of treatment is percutaneous (transcatheter) closure. This thesis aims to investigate the impact of percutaneous closure on symptoms, ventilation, hemodynamics, electrophysiology, and mechanics in adult ASD patients, and that of symptoms and secondary prevention of stroke in PFO patients.