Percutaneous closure of an iatrogenic ventricular septal defect following mechanical aortic valve replacement using the transseptal technique

Transcatheter Closure of Iatrogenic VSDs after Aortic Valve Replacement Surgery: 2 Case Reports and a Literature Review

We report 2 new cases of transcatheter closure of iatrogenic ventricular septal defects after aortic valve replacement surgery, together with our finding, in a literature review, of 9 additional patients who had undergone this procedure from 2004 through 2013. In all 11 cases, transcatheter device closure was indicated for a substantial intracardiac shunt with symptomatic heart failure, and such a device was successfully deployed across the iatrogenic ventricular septal defect, with clinical improvement. Our review suggests that transcatheter closure of iatrogenic ventricular septal defects in patients with previous aortic valve replacement surgery is a safe and effective treatment option, providing anatomic defect closure and relief of symptoms in the short-to-medium term.

Transcatheter trans-septal antegrade closure of muscular ventricular septal defects in young children

BACKGROUND

Surgical or transcatheter closure of muscular ventricular septal defects (mVSDs) in young children may be technically challenging and associated with significant complications.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of trans-septal antegrade closure of mVSD in a selected subset of young children.

METHODS

This is a prospective study from a single centre from July 2011 to March 2013. Nine infants and children with single or multiple mVSDs were included in the study. The median age and weight were 6 months (range 4-18 months) and 4.5 kg (range 3.8-6.2 kg), respectively. Trans-femoral trans-septal antegrade technique was used in eight children. One child was excluded from the study because of abnormally tortuous anatomy of both the femoral veins and subsequently underwent VSD device closure by the trans-jugular approach. The follow-up evaluation included chest X-ray, ECG, and echocardiogram at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year.

RESULTS

The defects were closed successfully in all eight patients using Amplatzer mVSD device in 5 and Amplatzer Duct Occluder II in 3. Moderate mitral regurgitation due to entrapment of the anterior mitral leaflet occurred in one patient with a posteriorly located mVSD, necessitating removal of the device, and surgical closure of the mVSD. The small additional residual mVSD in one other patient closed spontaneously during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcatheter trans-septal antegrade closure of mVSD in young children is technically feasible and merits further consideration. Symptomatic relief in multiple mVSD can be achieved after closing larger defects.

How should I treat a perimembranous interventricular defect following aortic valve replacement surgery?

BACKGROUND

A 73-year-old man was admitted to our Institute for repeated episodes of congestive heart failure. The patient was affected by arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and recurrent atrial fibrillation. Two months earlier he had undergone aortic valve replacement with a biological prosthesis for severe stenosis. Echocardiography showed a left-to-right shunt localised in the left ventricular outflow tract, normal morphology and function of the aortic valve prosthesis, and a hyperkinetic left ventricle.

INVESTIGATION

Physical examination, electrocardiography, transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, right heart catheterisation, left ventricular angiography.

DIAGNOSIS

Post-surgical perimembranous interventricular defect with a clinically significant left-to-right shunt.

MANAGEMENT

Percutaneous closure with a ventricular septal defect occluder.

Novel method for delivering the Amplatzer muscular VSD occluder in a patient with double outlet right ventricle after bidirectional Glenn procedure and pulmonary artery band

We report the first use of bilateral femoral venovenous rail creation for the delivery of an Amplatzer Muscular Ventricular Septal Defect Occluder in a patient with a large mid-to-apical muscular ventricular septal defect before Rastelli operation. The presence of a right-sided bidirectional Glenn shunt, a banded main pulmonary artery, and double outlet right ventricle anatomy precluded the use of standard delivery techniques. The patient underwent successful transcatheter device placement followed by Rastelli operation on the following day.

Transcatheter membranous ventricular septal defect closure through a mechanical aortic prosthesis using the Amplatzer membranous ventricular septal defect occluder

An iatrogenic ventricular septal defect (VSD) after aortic valve replacement is rare, but represents a significant complication. Repeat surgery to repair such a defect carries a high surgical risk. The transcatheter approach (either transvascular or transapical) could be considered as an alternative to open chest surgery. We describe the successful transcatheter closure of an iatrogenic VSD with an Amplatzer membranous VSD occluder in a patient with previous combined mitral and aortic mechanical valve replacements. The device was implanted through a CarboMedics mechanical valve in the aortic position.