The first described case of late infective endocarditis after implantation of Figulla Flex Ⅱ ASD occluder

Infective endocarditis is one of the complications following the percutaneous occlusion of an atrial septal defect (ASD) with a closure device. To the best of our knowledge, no case reports have been published of infective endocarditis associated with the Figulla Flex Ⅱ ASD occluder (FSO; Occlutech GmbH, Jena, Germany). We present the case of a 50-year-old woman who underwent a transcatheter closure of an ASD with FSO almost 2 years prior to presentation to our institution. Echocardiography showed a mobile vegetation (20 × 10 mm), and her blood culture grew β-hemolytic streptococci. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute cerebral infarction. Those findings were diagnosed as late infective endocarditis associated with the ASD closure device. The patient was treated with antibiotics and underwent surgical removal of the FSO, which showed incomplete endothelialization, and surgical repair of ASD. After surgery, the patient made a complete recovery without complications or residual shunts. This case highlights the risk of late infective endocarditis in patients after closure of ASD with an FSO with incomplete endothelialization. <Learning objective: Endothelialization of Figulla Flex Ⅱ ASD occluder (FSO) devices is presumed to be complete within 3 to 6 months. However, some patients have presented with poor endothelialization of the device. In patients who undergo percutaneous atrial septal defect closure with an FSO, delayed endothelialization of the device could be a risk for late infective endocarditis. We suggest the need to be aware of the onset of late infective endocarditis even after 6 months after placement of an FSO.>.