AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. (AGA Medical) (Nasdaq: AGAM) commends the U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for its newly issued guidelines. NICE concluded the percutaneous occlusion or closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) reduces the risk of thromboembolic stroke associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The independent organization is responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.

?These updated guidelines are a significant step forward in recognizing the benefit of LAA closure on stroke reduction in AF patients, affirming the indication for which we have designed the AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug to treat,? said John Barr, president and chief executive officer of AGA Medical. ?This important shift from previous guidance could help facilitate reimbursement of our device in the United Kingdom and, given the stature of NICE, could also help influence reimbursement recommendations across the European Union.?

The AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug is an implantable occlusion device designed to prevent blood clots from moving out of the LAA – a small structure off the left atrium of the heart – and causing a stroke. Researchers estimate that people with AF are five times more likely to suffer a stroke without treatment than those who do not have the heart arrhythmia.

The AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug received European CE Mark approval in December 2008, and is currently sold in Europe, South America and parts of the Pacific Rim.

The device is currently in a U.S. clinical trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy to close the LAA and prevent stroke in AF patients compared to warfarin, the most-prescribed, blood-thinning medication and the current standard of care. AGA Medical last week announced first patient enrollment in the feasibility phase of the prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

About AGA Medical

AGA Medical, based in Plymouth, Minnesota, is a leading innovator and manufacturer of medical devices for the treatment of structural heart defects and vascular abnormalities. AGA Medical's AMPLATZER® occlusion devices offer minimally invasive, transcatheter treatments that have been clinically shown to be safe and highly effective in defect closure. AGA Medical is the only manufacturer with occlusion devices approved to close seven different structural heart defects, with leading market positions for each of its devices. More than 1,650 articles supporting the benefits of AMPLATZER products have been published in medical literature. AGA Medical markets its AMPLATZER products in 112 countries worldwide to interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.amplatzer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include ?forward-looking statements,? within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including, in particular, statements regarding the impact of the NICE guidelines, initiation and timing of clinical trials, the possible outcomes obtained and the impact of such outcomes on patients, reimbursement for our devices, as well as our operating results. These statements are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the company. These statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events, are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things: further changes to the NICE guidelines, failure to complete the company's clinical trials or failure to achieve the desired results in our clinical trials; failure to implement the company's business or commercialization strategy; failure to capitalize on the company's expected market opportunities; failure to achieve reimbursement for our products;lack of regulatory approval and market acceptance of the company's new products, product enhancements or new applications for existing products; regulatory developments affecting the company's products; and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should understand that many important factors, including those discussed herein, could cause the company's results to differ materially from those expressed or suggested in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, the company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise. Readers are advised to review the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which are available from the SEC's EDGAR database at www.sec.gov, at various SEC reference facilities in the United States and via the company's website at www.amplatzer.com).

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc.
Rachel Ellingson, 763-531-3018
Senior Director, Business Development and Investor Relations
rellingson@amplatzer.com
or
Padilla Speer Beardsley
Nick Banovetz, 612-455-1705
nbanovetz@psbpr.com