Transcatheter Closure Procedure Research Articles

NT-proBNP levels as a predictor of higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in children with small perimembranous ventricular septal defect

The decision to close small ventricular septal defect is still controversial. Previous study showed that ventricular dysfunction in adulthood is correlated with small perimembranous ventricular septal defect. N terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a neurohormone secreted primarily from the ventricles in response to increased left and right ventricular pressure and volume load. The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure will reflect ventricular performance. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and the NT-proBNP in children with small perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Level of NT-proBNP in 41 patients with small perimembranous ventricular septal defect was measured before transcatheter closure procedure. We also measured the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in each patients during catheterisation. We investigated the value of NT-proBNP in patients with small perimembranous ventricular septal defect and its correlation with the level of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. We found positive correlation between NT-proBNP and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (r = 0.278, p = 0.046). The median of NT-proBNP at left ventricular end-diastolic pressure < 10 was lower than at left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ≥ 10 (0.87 ng/ml versus 1.83 ng/ml, p = 0.023). The results of the NT-proBNP diagnostic test for predicting left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ≥ 10 using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed the area under the curve value of 0.715 (95% CI: 0.546-0.849). The cut-off value >0.99 ng/ml of NT-proBNP has 75.0% sensitivity and 72.2% specifity. Level of NT-proBNP higher than 0.99 ng/ml was correlated significantly with left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ≥10 in children with small perimembranous ventricular septal defect.

Feasibility, efficacy and safety of transbrachial access for interventional therapy on paravalvular leak post surgical valve replacement

Objective: To investigate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of transbrachial access for interventional therapy on prosthetic paravalvular leak (PVL) post surgical valve replacement. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients with PVL after surgical valve replacement who underwent interventional therapy via the brachial artery approach in Structural heart disease center of Fuwai hospital between August 2017 and October 2019, were included. All patients underwent puncture of the brachial artery under local anesthesia, angiography and transcatheter closure procedure were performed. The procedure was performed under transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guidance. Baseline data, operation data and pre-and post-operative TTE examination results were collected and analyzed. Postoperative complications were recorded and operational adverse events were obtained during follow up in the outpatient department after discharge. The operation success rate was calculated, which was defined as the degree of perivalvular regurgitation decrease by 1 grade and above according to TTE without interfering the valve movement and coronary artery blood flow within 30 days after occluder placement. Results: A total of 10 patients were enrolled in this study, the mean age was (57.5±14.6) years, and 6 patients were males. There were 7 cases with aortic PVL, and 3 cases with mitral PVL. Except for one patient who was converted to the femoral vein-transseptal approach, the other 9 patients were successfully implanted with the devices via the brachial artery approach. The operation time was (103.3±34.0) minutes, and there was no need for rigorous bed rest after the operation. The median hospital stay was 7.5 (3.0, 9.8) days. The operation success rate was 9/10 via the brachial artery approach. The differences in the degree of perivalvular regurgitation, New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, left ventricular end diastolic diameter and left atrial diameter before and after operation were statistically significant (all P<0.05). One case developed new hemolysis with renal insufficiency on the second day after procedure and discharged after successful dialysis. Another case experienced complication of brachial artery pseudoaneurysm after procedure and discharged after successful treatment with thrombin injection. The mean follow-up time was (14.3±7.9) months. During the follow-up, NYHA classification remained as Ⅰ/Ⅱ in 9 patients, no operational adverse events were observed. Conclusions: Transbrachial access for interventional therapy on PVL post surgical valve replacement is a feasible, effective, and safe procedure. It has the advantages of simplifying the operation process and reducing postoperative bed rest time.

Pulmonary Artery Hypertension in Acyanotic Congenital Heart Disease Underwent Transcatheter Closure at Dr. Soetomo Hospital

Background: Pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) is common complication of congenital heart disease.Echocardiography before and after transcatheter closure procedure is needed for further evaluation.Objective: To evaluate the PAH before and after transcatheter closure procedure by echocardiography atDr. Soetomo Hospital.Methods: Medical record patients with acyanotic congenital heart disease with PAH and already donetranscatheter closure procedure in 2010 – 2014 were reviewed. Data taken were demographic, clinical,and echocardiography. Tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) was evaluated. Statistical analysisusing t test comparative study; P&lt;0.05 was considered significant.Results: There were 46 patients underwent transcatheter closure, ASD closure 22/46, VSD closure 16/46,PDA closure 8/46 patients. Ten patients with PAH (10/46), 4/10 ASD, 4/10 PDA and 2/10 VSD. Boys were6/10, median age was 60 (range 4-144 months). Median TRPG before procedure was 32.4 (range 25-43mmHg). Median TRPG after procedure was 21.5 (range 15-26.9 mmHg). There was significant decreased inPAH after transcatheter closure procedure (P=0.01).Conclusion: Transcatheter closure procedure in acyanotic congenital heart disease was important fordecreasing the pressure gradient of PAH.

Cost comparison of transcatheter and operative closures for patients with secundum atrial septal defects in Vietnam

We aim to estimate and compare the costs of operative and transcatheter closure for patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in Vietnam. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study based on medical records of congenital heart diseases (CHD) patients in Da Nang Hospital, Vietnam from 2010 through 2015. All costs in this study were calculated according to a provider's perspective. All pricing data were converted into USD at the 2015 exchange rate. A total of 258 patients with secundum ASD were recruited in the study, including 35 patients treated by operative closure and 223 patients treated by transcatheter closure. The total treatment costs of the transcatheter closure group (US $3,107.9) were higher than those of the operative closure group (US $2,080.5). The cost of the procedure and medical supplies accounted for 67.3% of the total treatment cost in the operative closure group, while the cost of occlusion devices accounted for 62.2% of the total cost in the transcatheter closure group. Given the advantages of the transcatheter closure procedure, reducing occlusion device costs may increase the proportion of patients treated with this technique.

Comparison of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Capacity in Patients with Atrial Septal Defect Treated with Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery or Transcatheter Closure

Aim. The main aim of our study was to compare the results of transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure versus minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) focusing on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and echocardiographic findings preoperatively and 1 month after defect closure.Material and methods. 54 patients with ASD and finally 43 patients who were followed up were included in the study. 21 patients were in MICS (robotic or endoscopic approach) and 22 patients were in transcatheter closure arm. All patients investigated in detail by transesophageal echocardiography and underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). At the end of first month, CPET and transthorasic echocardiography were reperformed.Results. There was significant improvement of physical capacity after 1 month following the transcatheter closure procedure documented by exercise time and VO 2 max. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (Tri S) were not changed. In surgery group right heart diameters declined significantly; but VO 2 max, TAPSE and Tri S significantly decreased.Conclusion. Cardiopulmonary exercise function is increased in transcatheter closure group 1 month after closure and contrary not in MICS group. This may be caused by long recovery time of the right ventricle after surgery. Device closure of ASD is preferable to surgical closure if the anatomy is suitable. However, MICS for ASD closure is safe, with short recovery period and less scarring.

Non-operating room anaesthesia for embolisation of ductus closure device to the pulmonary artery in a child with patent ductus arteriosus - CORRIGENDUM.

ABSTRACTPatent ductus arteriosus is among the most common congenital heart diseases. With the increasing use of transcatheter closure procedures, the incidence of complications related to the procedure has increased. Embolization of the ductus closure device to the pulmonary artery is a very rare complication. Since those procedures are often performed under non-operating room anesthesia, anesthetic management of such patients is of great importance. Herein, anesthetic management of embolization of the ductus closure device to the pulmonary artery in a little girl was presented. This is the first case regarding the anesthetic management of such complication.

Characteristics and transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in patients living at moderate-to-high altitude in Eastern Anatolia

The incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is greater among patients living at high altitude. In this po-pulation, the ductal diameter is often larger and pulmonary hypertension is more frequent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and morphological features of PDA and transcatheter closure procedures performed with various devices in a group of patients living at high altitude in Turkey. The data of 327 patients who lived at an altitude of at least 1600 m above sea level and who had undergone cardiac catheterization for isolated PDA between May 2010 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean age was 7.33±7.67 years, and 62.4% of the patients were female. The mean ductal diameter was 3.74±2.14 mm. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 57.8%. Transcatheter closure was performed in 322 patients, with a 97.3% success rate. The Amplatzer duct occluder I (ADO I) was used most often, as well as off-label use of the Amplatzer vascular plug II (AVP) and the Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect occluder (AMVSDO). Pulmonary artery pressure decreased immediately in the vast majority after percutaneous closure. Transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction after ductal closure was seen only rarely. Follow-up was uneventful. Transcatheter PDA closure can be performed with high success rate in highlanders. Off-label devices may be required for these procedures. Pulmonary hypertension is frequent but regresses after ductal closure. Transient left ventricular dysfunction after transcatheter closure is rarely seen in these patients and resolves without any medication.

Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Coronary Artery Fistulas with a Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm in Children: Experiences from a Single Center.

Background:Transcatheter closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas (CCAFs) is an alternative therapy to surgery; however, data regarding transcatheter closure for CCAF with a giant coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) in pediatric patients are still limited due to the rarity of the disease. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure for CCAF with a giant CAA in a pediatric population at a single center.Methods:Medical records of pediatric patients (<18 years old) who underwent transcatheter closure of CCAF with a giant CAA between April 2007 and September 2016 at Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute (Guangdong, China) were reviewed.Results:Twelve patients (median age, 6.1 years; range, 1.9–11.0 years) underwent successful transcatheter closure procedures. One patient underwent closure at both the entry and exit points of the CAA, three patients underwent closure at the exit point of the CAA, and eight patients underwent closure at the entry point of the CAA. After a mean follow-up of 7.2 years (range, 0.5–9.8 years), one patient (with closure at the exit point of the CAA) underwent transcatheter re-intervention because of a significant residual shunt. She eventually underwent a surgical procedure due to aneurysm dilation after the second intervention. One patient experienced thrombus formation within the CAA after the procedure. Among those with closure at the entry point of the CAA, a mild-to-moderate residual shunt was detected in three patients.Conclusions:Transcatheter closure appears to be a safe and effective alternative therapy for CCAF with a giant CAA in the pediatric population. Closure at the entry point of the CAA, and closure at both the entry and exit points when feasible, may reduce the risk of postinterventional complications.

Postprocedural Outcomes and Risk Factors for Arrhythmias Following Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect: A Single-center Retrospective Study.

Background:Currently, transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) is a widely accepted therapeutic modality. However, arrhythmias, especially postprocedural heart blocks, are a concern and outcomes are not very clear. This study explored the outcomes and risk factors of arrhythmias associated with transcatheter device closure of pmVSD.Methods:A total of 395 patients diagnosed with pmVSD who successfully underwent transcatheter intervention between January 2010 and December 2015 in our center were retrospectively reviewed. Electrocardiographic data before and after the procedure were collected and analyzed. We first evaluated the potential risk factors including gender, age, weight, inlet and outlet diameters of defect, subaortic rim length, occluder size, corrected occluder size into body surface area, fluoroscopy time, presence of aneurysm, and deployment position. We compared the potential risk factors between arrhythmia and nonarrhythmia groups using univariate analysis, followed by logistic analysis for independent risk factors.Results:Various arrhythmias were detected in 95 cases (24.1%) following transcatheter closure procedure. Logistic regression analysis revealed that eccentric (odds ratio [OR] 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–7.2) and large occluders (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.6–2.5), as well as long fluoroscopy time (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 1.1–1.2), were correlated with postprocedural arrhythmia. During 35.5 months (range: 9–80 months) of follow-up, most of the patients (74 out of 95) reverted to normal heart rhythm.Conclusions:The mid-term outcome of patients with arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of pmVSD was satisfactory as most of the patients recovered normal rhythm. Eccentric, large device and long fluoroscopy time increase the risk of arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of pmVSD.

Transesophagography Identifies Guide Wire Impingement on the Tricuspid Valve Chordae Duringtranscatheter Closure of the Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect

Percutaneous transcatheter device closure of the perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) in proper case is now an alternative to surgical VSD repair. However, some complications during the transcatheter closure procedure might happen, which includean impingement of the arteriovenous rail (AVr) in the chordae of tricuspid valve (TV) and result in chordae rupture withsevere tricuspid regurgitation. Conventionally, we used fluoroscopic images to help judginga ‘safe, straightAVr’ from a ‘wrong, curvedAVr’.Determined to observe the right from wrong AVr course with transesophagography (TEE) directly, we performed this study. This retrospective study enrolled 17 patients of perimembranous VSD that received transcatheter VSD closing procedure in Children's Hospital of China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan in last 4 years. Philips iE33 Echocardiography with omniplane TEE probes were used. TEE study kept going on throughout the whole procedure. The spatial relationships between guiding wire, AVr, delivery long sheath and the AO valve, VSD, aneurysm tissue and TV were particularly noticed of. TV leaflets restriction or deformity by the guide wire or AVr, with or without tricuspid regurgitation, were considered as signs of chordae impingement and the AVr must be removed and re-attempted. Guide wire impingement on TV chordae occurred in one patient and AVr impingement occurred in 4 patients. Compared to the conventional fluoroscopic guideline of ‘wrong, curved AVr line’, only 2 of the 4 AVr impingement cases displayed this fluoroscopic curved line. Instead, TEE observed quite a few significant image abnormalities of TV restriction, including ‘dome-shape deformity of the septal leaflet at systole’, ‘ring-shape deformity at diastole’, ‘seagull deformity of TV at systole’, ‘hanging bed-deformity of TV at diastole’, and ‘redundant tissue tag’ etc., in addition to the appearance of TV regurgitation. For ascertain a safe AVr course that was passing rightly through the membranous VSD and the TV commissure, the fluoroscopic imageaddress only roughly ‘a straight’ from ‘a curved’ AVr line. TEE appeared to be a superior and useful modality for a detail description of TV impingement by AVr or guide wire.

Assessment of Ventricular Septal Defect Size and Morphology by Three-Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiography

Morphologic description of ventricular septal defect (VSD) is mandatory before performing the newly developed transcatheter closure procedure. Inaccurate estimation of defect size has been reported using conventional two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The aim of this study was to assess VSD morphology and size using three-dimensional (3D) TTE compared with 2D TTE and surgery. Forty-eight children aged 21.4±29.3months with isolated muscular (n=11 [22.9%]) and membranous (n=37 [77.1%]) VSDs were prospectively included. Three-dimensional images were acquired using full-volume single-beat mode. Minimal diameter, maximal diameter, and systolic and diastolic VSD areas were measured from 3D data sets using multiplanar reconstruction mode (QLAB 9). Maximal-to-minimal VSD diameter ratio was used to assess VSD geometry. Linear regression analysis and the Bland-Altman method were used to compare 3D measurements with 2D and surgical measurements in a subgroup of 15 patients who underwent surgical VSD closure. VSD 3D diameters and areas were measured in all patients (100%; 95% CI, 92.6%-100%). Maximal diameter was lower on 2D TTE compared with 3D TTE (7.3 vs 11.3mm, P<.0001). Mean bias was 4mm, with 95% of values ranging from -1.76 to 9.75mm. Correlation between 3D maximal diameter and surgical diameter was strong (r(2)=0.97, P<.0001), while correlation between maximal 2D diameter and surgical diameter was moderate (r(2)=0.63, P<.0001). VSDs had an oval shape when assessed by 3D TTE. Maximal-to-minimal diameter ratio assessed by 3D TTE was significantly higher in muscular VSDs compared with membranous VSDs (3.20±1.51 vs 2.13±1.28, respectively, P=.01). VSD area variation throughout the cardiac cycle was 32% and was higher in muscular compared with membranous VSDs (49% vs 26%, P=.0001). Three-dimensional TTE allows better VSD morphologic and maximal diameter assessment compared with 2D TTE. VSD shape and its changes during the cardiac cycle can be visually and quantitatively displayed. Three-dimensional echocardiography may thus be particularly useful before and during percutaneous VSD closure.

Feasibility, Safety and Long-Term Follow-Up of Transcatheter Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defects with Deficient Rims

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter closure procedures for the treatment of atrial septal defects (ASDs) with insufficient rims. Methods: A total of 507 secondary ASDs were divided into two groups based on whether they had deficient rims or not (152 vs. 355 cases, respectively). Any complications, including residual shunt, heart arrhythmia, occluder translocation, etc., were followed up for 1-3 years. Results: There were no differences in gender, weight, exposure time, ECG states, pulmonary pressure, the intervention success rate, occurrence of residual shunt, the operation time and occurrence of residual shunt during follow-up between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, the occurrence of rhythm disorders was significantly different between the two groups; ASDs with deficient rims were at an elevated risk (p < 0.05). Specifically, there was a significantly higher incidence in the occurrence of arrhythmia in the deficient rims group at 24 h postoperation, but no differences in arrhythmia incidence at any of the other follow-up time points (1, 3, 6, 12 and 36 months; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with deficient rims experience a high success rate of ASD intervention and low rate of complications when the procedures are performed by experienced operators.

Pathophysiology of paradoxical embolism: evaluation of the role of interatrial septum anatomy based on the intracardiac echocardiography assessment of patients with right-to-left shunting

Detailed anatomic variants of the interatrial septum in patients with right-to-left shunt and contribution of specific anatomies to the risk of ischaemic recurrences has not yet been comprehensively classified. To report a classification of the anatomic variants of the interatrial septum as observed by intracardiac echocardiography and its correlation with clinical and functional characteristics. We retrospectively reviewed the medical and instrumental data of 520 consecutive patients (mean age 44±15. 5 years, 355 women) who had over a 10-year period undergone intracardiac echocardiography and right-to-left shunt catheter-based closure. The four main features used to analyse were: (a) diameter of the oval fossa, (b) presence and length of the channel, (c) presence and degree of atrial septal aneurysm, and (d) rim thickness. The presence of Eustachian valve was also tabulated. The combinations of interatrial septum anatomical features were classified into six main anatomical subgroups. Recurrent embolism, multiple ischaemic foci on brain magnetic resonance imaging, high grade shunt, and permanent shunt before transcatheter closure procedure were associated with type 2, type 4, and type 6. Type 4 anatomical subtype (OR 4.1, 1.5-8 [95% CI], p<0.001) and type 2+presence of Eustachian valve (OR 4.3, 1.6-9 [95% CI], p<0.001) were the strongest predictors of recurrent ischaemic events before transcatheter closure. Our study showed that interatrial septum anatomy greatly differs among patients with right-to-left shunt, as well as the risk of ischaemic recurrences in different anatomies.

Advances in the treatment of ventricular septal defect

Ventricular septal defect is one of the most common congenital heart diseases in children.Surgical repair,transcatheter closure and hybrid procedure are common clinical treatments.The traditional therapy for ventricular septal defect is cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.Recent publications have reported the safe and effective results of the transcatheter therapy and hybrid procedure for ventricular septal defect.This paper provides an overview of the indications,complications and latest progress about the main three therapies for ventricular septal defect in order to explore a more rational method. Key words: Ventricular septal defect; Surgical repair; Transcatheter closure; Hybrid procedure

Retrieval of embolized atrial septal defect closure device one year after insertion

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital cardiac defects and accounts for approximately 6–10 % of all congenital cardiac defects [1]. With the development of various devices, percutaneous transcatheter closure of ASD has become the first choice for selected patients. However, percutaneous transcatheter closure procedures are not free of potential complications. We report a case of a 14 year old female patient with embolized ASD closure device in Pulmonary Artery (PA) 1 year after insertion. She was treated with pulmonary arteriotomy, with retrieval of device and surgical closure of ASD.

Comparison of surgical vs. non-surgical closure procedures for secundum atrial septal defect

Backgi-ound Surgery has been the standard therapy for secundumatrial septa! defect (ASD) closure, but it has significant associatedmorbidities related to st ernotomy, car diopulmonary bypass,complications, residual scars, and trauma. A less invasive nonsurgicalapproach with transcatheter devices was developed toocclude ASD. Amplatzer® septa! occluder (ASO) is a commondevice in transcatheter closure.Objective To compare two secundum ASD closure procedures,transcatheter closure by ASO and surgical closure, in terms ofefficacy, complications, length of hospital stay, and total costs.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on childrenwith secundum ASD admitted to the Cardiology Center ofCipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from January 2005 to December2011. Patients received either transcatheter closure with ASOor surgical closure procedures. Data was obtained from patients'medical records.Results A total of 112 secundum ASD cases were included in thisstudy, consisting of 42 subjects who underwent transcatheter closureprocedure by ASO and 70 subjects who underwent surgical closureprocedure. Procedure efficacies of surgery and ASO were not significantlydifferent (98.6% vs 95.2%, respectively, P= 0.555). However,subjects who underwent surgical procedures had significantly morecomplication s than subjects who underwent transcatheter closureprocedure (60% vs 28.6%, respectively, OR 1.61; 95%CI 1.19 to2.18; P= 0.001). Hospital stays were also significantly longer forsurgical patients than for transcatheter closure patients (6 days vs2 days, respectively, P&lt; 0.0001). In addition, all surgical subjectsrequired intensive care. Transcatheter closure had a mean total costof 52.7 (SD 6.7) million Rupiahs while the mean cost of surgery was47 (SD 9.2) million Rupiahs (P&lt; 0.0001) . Since the ASO devicecost represented 58% of the total cost of transcatheter closure, themean cost of transcatheter closure procedure without the deviceitself was less costly than surgery.Conclusion Transcatheter closure using ASO has a similar efficacyto that of surgical closure procedure. However, subjects whounderwent transcatheter closure have lower complication ratesand shorter length ofhosp ital stays than subjects who had surgery,but transcatheter closure costs are higher compared to the surgicalprocedure.

Percutaneous Closure of Congenital Coronary Artery Fistulae: Results and Angiographic Follow-Up

This study sought to assess clinical and angiographic outcomes in a series of 29 patients who underwent transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulae (CAF). Transcatheter closure of CAF has become an alternative to surgical closure, but the reported experience is relatively limited. Medical records of all patients with CAF who underwent transcatheter closure at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, between 1997 and 2010, were reviewed. Patients with other complex cardiac lesions and those requiring surgery were excluded. Twenty-nine patients with CAF underwent 36 transcatheter closure procedures. The most were women (55%), and the median age at the time of transcatheter closure was 49 years. Twenty-three patients had a single CAF. The most common presenting symptom was chest pain (52%). Thirty devices were deployed antegrade into 1 or more arterial feeders, 3 using an arteriovenous wire loop and 3 retrograde at the fistulous connection. Successful closure occurred immediately in all patients with no residual flow in 89% and with trivial flow in 11%. Four complications occurred including 2 device migrations, 1 coronary spasm, and 1 coronary thrombosis. A follow-up angiogram was obtained in 18 (62%) patients with a median time to follow-up angiography of 1.5 years. Ten patients (56%) of the 18 patients with follow-up angiography had no recanalization of embolized vessel; 4 patients (22%) had trivial recanalization, and 4 patients (22%) had large recanalization. A repeat closure procedure was performed in all 4 patients of the latter. Transcatheter closure of CAF is feasible and should be considered in carefully selected patients. Recanalization of the treated coronary fistulae can occur, so follow-up angiography or other imaging modality should be performed in these patients.

Transcatheter closure of multi-hole perimembranous VSD with aneurysm: 3-year follow-up study

The majority of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are perimembranous, accounting for 75-80% of all VSDs. The objective of this study was to investigate occluder selection and transcatheter closure technique for multi-hole perimembranous VSD with aneurysm, and to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety. Patients with multi-hole VSDs and aneurysm (n = 64) were selected for the procedure using transthoracic echocardiography. Double-disc symmetrical, small-waist double-disc asymmetrical and zero eccentricity occluders were selected based on left ventricular angiography. The closure was successful in 63 of 64 patients (98%). The double-disc symmetrical occluder was used in 16 cases, the small-waist double-disc asymmetrical occluder in 42 cases, and the zero eccentricity occluder in 8 cases (2 occluder types were used in 2 cases). Fifteen minutes after the procedure, 52 cases had no residual shunt and 12 had a trace amount of residual shunt. The residual shunt disappeared in five cases 5-7 days post procedure, with a trace amount of shunt remaining in seven cases. Transient conduction abnormalities related to the procedure occurred in six patients; however, none required permanent pacemaker implantation. At the 1-month, 6-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year follow-up visits, echocardiography indicated that the position of the occluders was fixed, and there were no complications including residual shunt, newly developed atrioventricular block, thromboembolism, or bacterial endocarditis. The study results indicate that left ventricular angiography is useful in selecting the most appropriate device for transcatheter closure of multi-hole perimembranous VSD with aneurysm. The transcatheter closure procedure is safe and effective with little residual shunt and no major complications for up to 3 years of follow-up.

Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure Assisted by Intracardiac Echocardiography: 3‐Year Follow‐Up

Intracardiac echocardiographic (ICE) evaluation of secundum atrial septal defect (ASDs) shows several advantages over transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The aim of our study is to describe the 3-year results of transcatheter ASDs closure using the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) and ICE as the sole imaging tool both to select the device size and to monitor the procedure. Under local anesthesia, 135 consecutive eligible patients with ASDs (male/female = 45/90; mean age 42.2 +/- 19.2 years; BSA 1.71 +/- 0.7 m(2); mean pulmonary arterial pressure 30.4 +/- 11.5 mmHg; mean Qp/Qs ratio 2.1 +/- 0.6) underwent transcatheter closure using ASO and ICE. A 9F-9MHz mechanical transducer was used. Two orthogonal views on the transverse aortic valve and on the longitudinal four-chamber planes were obtained for quantitative ICE measurements, from which the diameters of the implanting ASO waist were to be derived. In all cases, we obtained a proper evaluation of ICE ASDs dimensions, leading to an optimal device size selection (mean size 25.0 +/- 6.7 mm). Moreover, the ICE allowed us to monitor device deployment and to verify the effectiveness of the ASDs stented by ASO. There were no complications related to the procedure or to the use of ICE. During a mean follow-up period of 21.5 +/- 12 months, the cumulative complete occlusion rates were 97.7, 97.0, 97.1, and 98% at 24 hours, 3 month, and 1 and 3 years, respectively. ICE is an effective and safe alternative to TEE and balloon-sizing maneuver during ASDs transcatheter closure procedures, allowing us to avoid the need of general anesthesia and leading to a similarly high percentage of occlusion rates with respect to the conventional method.

Clinical use of AcuNav diagnostic ultrasound catheter imaging during left heart radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter closure procedures

Background: AcuNav ultrasound catheter (UC) (10F, 5.5-10 MHz) has unique advantages for left heart imaging with its 4-way tip flexible maneuverability, maximal 16-cm intracardiac imaging depth, and Doppler and color flow imaging capability. Methods: We assessed the initial use of this UC in 40 consecutive patients (34 men; age 53 ± 11 years old). All patients were also undergoing transseptal catheterization for percutaneous catheter mapping and ablation of either left atrium (focal initiated atrial arrhythmia/fibrillation, n = 32) or left ventricle (ventricular tachycardia, n = 4), or transcatheter atrial septal defect closure (n = 4) procedures. During each procedure, the UC was placed in the right atrium, superior vena cava, or right ventricular inflow/outflow tract. Results: In all patients, UC successfully guided transseptal catheterization and provided imaging of normal or aberrant anatomy of the right/left atrial (interatrial septum, fossa ovalis, appendages, 4 pulmonary vein ostia) and right/left ventricular (valves and papillary muscles) structures. UC was important in early identification procedure complications, including pericardial effusion (n = 2, detected before systematic hemodynamic deterioration) and thrombus formation on sheaths deployed in the right atrium (n = 9) and left atrium (n = 2, early elimination with management of the sheath). With Doppler and color flow imaging, UC provided effective monitoring of increased flow velocity of all ablated pulmonary vein ostia and detection of patent foramen ovale (n = 6) or residual trivial/small atrial septal defect posttransseptal catheterization (n = 2). UC was also used to successfully image and guide transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with positioning of the cardioseal septal occluder (Nitinol Medical Technologies Inc, Boston, Mass) and color Doppler imaging of no significant residual shunt. Conclusion: AcuNav UC with Doppler and color flow imaging has significant use, especially during left heart ablation. Uses include guidance of transseptal and mapping/ablation catheters and closure devices, and prompt diagnosis of cardiac complications. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2002;15:1301-8.)