The early experience at the University of Michigan with the Rashkind ASD occluder in three children with a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is reported. Successful transcatheter ASD closure was accomplished in one child. The procedure was not successful in the other two. In one, the ASD occluder was inadvertently implanted in the right atrium. The ASD was successfully closed in the other child, but the occluder device partially detached from the atrial septum 4 days later and required emergency surgical retrieval from the left atrium. Based on this early experience, revisions in the occluder device and the technique of its delivery are suggested that should improve the safety and efficacy of transcatheter ASD occlusion in the future.