Gerbode defect: Another nail for the 3D transesophagel echo hammer?

Abstract

Acquired type of LV to RA shunt (Gerbode defect) is rare form of intracardiac shunt which is due to complications of invasive cardiac procedures, endocarditis, trauma or myocardial infarction. Increasing invasive and recurrent cardiovascular procedures have led to more acquired cases of what used to be a predominant congenital heart defect. Advanced cardiac imaging techniques and awareness of this rare pathology may account for the increased number of case reports in the last two decades Advanced cardiac imaging tools such as cardiac CT, MRI and Real-time 3D echocardiography provide definitive diagnosis and anatomic characterization of the shunt. Real-time 3D echocardiography is an imaging technique with arguably the most advantages. It is not only a diagnostic tool; it has also become an integral part of percutaneous and surgical treatment. Although surgical repair is the usual treatment for this shunt, percutaneous catheter-based closure has seen significant success as a less invasive treatment in selected patients in the last decade. In summary, a beneficial side effect of the increasing frequency of acquired Gerbode defect has been the corresponding development of newer diagnostic tools and less invasive treatments. This article presents etiologic, diagnostic and treatment changes of acquired LV-RA shunts over the last two decades.