PROCEDURAL TECHNICALITIES AND OUTCOME OF TRANSCATHETER CLOSURE OF ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT USING OCCLUTECH DEVICE IN TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects and to evaluate the initial, midterm and long-term results of the treatment. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, from Jul 2017 to Jun 2018. Methodology: Sixty-four patients underwent transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect. Size of the defect was measured by Transoesophageal/Transthoracic. Follow up was carried out at twenty-four hours, one month, six months and at twelve months. Early, Midterm and late complications after device occlusion were analysed using SPSS-22 statistical software. Results: Minimum size of atrial septal defect on echocardiography was 7 mm and maximum size was 31 mm with mean of 18.3 ± 5.7 mm. The procedure was successful in 96.8% cases. There was only one device embolization (1.56%). Cobrahead” configuration malformation of the device occurred in one case (1.56%). Mitral valve regurgitation did not occur in any of the case. There was no residual shunt across the device in the present study. ECG abnormalities associated with transcatheter closure did not occur in any of the patient. In intermediate and long-term follow up, no complication like cardiac erosion was seen in all cases under study. Conclusion: Transcatheter occlusion of ASD with device was found effective and safe procedure with minimal complication rate, short hospital stay, good short, intermediate and long-term results.

Mechanical hemolysis secondary to percutaneous repair of an iatrogenic Gerbode defect with the Amplatzer™ Septal Occluder

The Gerbode defect is defined as an abnormal communication between the left ventricle and the right atrium, and is etiologically classified as congenital or acquired (iatrogenic or not). The typical treatment consists of surgical repair of the shunt, but transcatheter occlusion of this condition has proven to be a safe and effective therapeutic alternative for such patients, especially for those with prior surgeries. The aim of this study was to report a case of transcatheter closure of an acquired Gerbode defect, using the Amplatzer™ Septal Occluder device, in a 58-year-old patient, with two prior mitral valve replacements, and the consequent post-procedure mechanical hemolysis.

Young stroke due to pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

Young patients presenting with cryptogenic stroke should be investigated for cardiac and extra-cardiac sources of emboli. We present a patient who was investigated for a cardiac source of emboli, following multiple ischaemic strokes and migraine with aura over a period of 17 years. The events were initially thought to be related to a patent foramen ovale (PFO) on bubble contrast echocardiography, however, due to an unusual flow pattern to the left heart, she underwent a CT angiogram to exclude intrapulmonary shunting. This confirmed the presence of a moderate sized congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula in the left lung. Transcatheter occlusion of the vascular malformation has resolution of her symptoms. Bubble contrast echocardiography is routinely used to diagnose a PFO in these cases, but extreme caution is required during the procedure to differentiate the pattern of flow seen in patients with a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

Respiratory Trajectory after Invasive Interventions for Patent Ductus Arteriosus of Preterm Infants

Invasive interventions have been conducted in preterm infants with significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) when medical treatment has failed, and methods of invasive intervention have been reported. Surgical ligation via lateral thoracotomy has been a well-established procedure for decades. Recently, transcatheter occlusion has been safely and feasibly applied to the premature population. However, little research has been conducted on the benefits of transcatheter occlusion in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants compared to surgical ligation. This study compared transcatheter and surgical techniques in VLBW infants in terms of short-term respiratory outcomes. The medical records of 401 VLBW infants admitted to a tertiary hospital between September 2014 and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who were diagnosed with a congenital anomaly, a chromosomal anomaly, or congenital heart disease, except for an inter-atrial shunt, were excluded. The perinatal conditions, neonatal morbidities, periprocedural vital signs, and respiratory support trajectories were compared between the transcatheter-treated and surgically ligated group. A total of 31 eligible VLBW infants received invasive intervention: 14 were treated with transcatheter occlusion (Group A), and 17 infants were treated with surgical ligation (Group B). Respiratory outcomes were not statistically significant between the two groups, despite Group A showing a trend toward early improvement in post-intervention respiratory trajectory. In this small case study, a different trend in post-intervention respiratory trajectories was observed. Future research with larger case numbers should be conducted to address our preliminary observations in more detail.

Transcatheter Occlusion of a Hepatic Vein to left Atrium Fistula: Should we close Venovenous collateral Vessels following Fontan operation?

following the Fontan operation. There are conflicting data regarding the closure of the venovenous collateral (VVC) vessels post-Fontan. The embolization of these VVC in older patients may be associated with decreased survival. We describe a rare fistula draining a right-sided hepatic vein connected to a hepatic venous plexus to a right-sided pulmonary venous atrium in a child with visceral heterotaxy. The patient presented with severe hypoxemia following the Fontan operation. The fistula was successfully occluded by an AMPLATZER™ Vascular Plug II to resolve the hypoxemia and improve the hemodynamic status. Approach to venovenous collaterals in older patients with mild cyanosis after the Fontan operation may differ from that in younger children with severe hypoxemia and intrahepatic VVC. Patients with profound cyanosis due to intrahepatic to atrial connection may benefit from the occlusion of these connections. Percutaneous closure of hepatic to atrial connection with significant hypoxemia following appropriate hemodynamic assessment may be beneficial.

Safety and Efficacy of Transcatheter Occlusion of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect with Aortic Valve Prolapse: A Six-Year Follow-Up Study

Background. With the rapid development of transcatheter techniques and instruments, transcatheter occlusion for patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pVSD) and aortic valve prolapse (AVP) was constantly being tried, while the efficacy and safety of pVSD with AVP remain controversial. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with AVP. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed 164 children with pVSD and AVP who underwent transcatheter occlusion between January 2013 and November 2014. AVP was divided into 3 degrees according to right coronary leaflet morphology at end-diastole during aortic root angiography. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Results. There were 97 males and 67 females (median age, 40.0 (30.0–62.7) months; average weight, 16.94 ± 9.02 kg). Mild (n = 63), moderate (n = 89), and severe (n = 12) AVP success rates were 93.7%, 89.9%, and 58.3%, respectively. Immediately after procedure, there was no new-onset aortic regurgitation (AR) above trivial degree, residual shunt above mild degree, or complications requiring medication or operation, except for 1 patient who developed transient complete atrioventricular block. During follow-up, 1 mild AVP patient aggravated from mild to moderate AR and 1 moderate AVP patient aggravated from trivial to moderate AR. The new-onset AR in mild, moderate, and severe AVP was 2%, 1.8%, and 20%, respectively. AR disappeared in 17 patients. Residual shunt occurred in 9 patients after procedure, 4 of which disappeared during the follow-up period. No serious complications occurred in any patient during follow-up. Five-year cardiovascular event-free survival rates for mild, moderate, and severe AVP were 89.6%, 94.5%, and 80.0%, respectively. Conclusion. Transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with mild and moderate AVP has a high success rate and few complications, which is safe and effective in long-term follow-up. Transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with severe AVP has low success rates and high AR incidence. Therefore, transcatheter occlusion of pVSD with AVP is recommended for mild to moderate, but not severe, AVP.