Transcatheter pulmonary valvuloplasty in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum

Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum, a National Comparison Between Interventional and Surgical Approach, in Combination with a Systemic Literature Review

This study aimed to compare long-term morbidity in patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) treated with catheter-based intervention (group A) versus those undergoing heart surgery (group B) as initial intervention. Additionally, we conducted a systematic literature review on PA-IVS treatment. All neonates born in Sweden with PA-IVS between 2007 and 2019 were screened for inclusion. The inclusion criterion was decompression of the right ventricle for initial intervention. Medical records were reviewed, as well as the initial preoperative angiogram, and the diagnostic echocardiogram. Comparisons between groups were performed with Mann-Whitney U-test and Fisher´s exact test. A systematic literature review of original studies regarding treatment of PA-IVS (2002 and onward) was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, to assess the outcomes of patients with PA-IVS. 34 (11 females) patients were included, 18 in group A and 16 in group B. There was no mortality in either group. Follow-up time ranged from 2 to 15 years (median 9). All attempted perforations in group A were successful, and 16 out of 18 patients reached biventricular circulation. In the surgical group 15 out of 16 patients reached biventricular circulation. The literature review presented heterogeneity in standards for treatment. This retrospective population-based multicenter study demonstrates that both catheter-based intervention and heart surgery are safe procedures. Our results are comparable to, or exceed, those in the systematic literature review. The systematic literature review displays a great heterogeneity in study design, with no definitive golden standard treatment.

Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure late after completion of biventricular circulation in patients with pulmonary atresia intact ventricular septum or critical pulmonary stenosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore anatomical and hemodynamic features of atrial septal defect, which was treated by transcatheter device closure late after completion of biventricular circulation in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) or critical pulmonary stenosis (CPS).

METHODS

We studied echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization data, including defect size, retroaortic rim length, single or multiple defects, the presence of malalignment atrial septum, tricuspid and pulmonary valve diameters, and cardiac chamber sizes, in patients with PAIVS/CPS who underwent transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (TCASD), and compared to control subjects.

RESULTS

A total of 173 patients with atrial septal defect, including 8 patients with PAIVS/CPS, underwent TCASD. Age and weight at TCASD were 17.3 ± 18.3 years and 36.6 ± 13.9 kg, respectively. There was no significant difference in defect size (13.7 ± 4.0 vs. 15.6 ± 5.2 mm, p = 0.317) and the retro-aortic rim length (3.7 ± 4.3 vs. 3.6 ± 0.3.1 mm, p = 0.948) between the groups; however, multiple defects (50% vs. 5%, p < 0.001) and malalignment atrial septum (62% vs. 14%. p < 0.001) were significantly frequent in patients with PAIVS/CPS compared to control subjects. The ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow in patients with PAIVS/CPS was significantly lower than that in the control patients (1.2 ± 0.4 vs. 2.0 ± 0.7, p < 0.001); however, four out of eight patients with atrial septal defect associated with PAIVS/CPS had right-to-left shunt through a defect, who were evaluated by the balloon occlusion test before TCASD. The indexed right atrial and ventricular areas, the right ventricular systolic pressure, and mean pulmonary arterial pressure did not differ between the groups. After TCASD, the right ventricular end-diastolic area remained unchanged in patients with PAIVS/CPS, whereas it significantly decreased in control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Atrial septal defect associated with PAIVS/CPS had more complex anatomy, which would be a risk for device closure. Hemodynamics should be individually evaluated to determine the indication for TCASD because PAIVS/CPS encompassed anatomical heterogeneity of the entire right heart.

Long-Term Outcomes After an Individualized Strategy in Patients with Pulmonary Atresia and Intact Ventricular Septum

This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the long-term outcomes of an individualized strategy in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS). We analyzed survival and reintervention rates and identified risk factors for outcomes in patients with PAIVS treated based on individual right heart structures between 1979 and 2019. Ninety-five patients were included in this study. The z-scores of the pulmonary annulus, tricuspid annulus, and right ventricular end-diastolic volume were - 3.30 (- 15.15 to 1.83), - 0.70 (- 4.65 to 2.33), and - 1.51 (- 6.35 to 1.18), respectively. Right ventricular-dependent coronary circulation occurred in 15% of the patients. Among the 63 patients attempting biventricular strategy at first, 55 patients achieved biventricular circulation, 3 patients had one-and-a-half circulation, and 4 patients died perioperatively. Among the 33 patients attempting univentricular strategy at first, 10 patients died before the completion of Fontan operation, 17 patients (48%) accomplished Fontan operation, and 5 patients waited for Fontan operation. In one patient, conversion to biventricular circulation occurred. During the follow-up period of 720 person-years, the 20-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with biventricular circulation than in those patients with univentricular circulation (93% vs. 67%, P < 0.001). Freedom from reintervention rates at 20 years was significantly lower in patients with biventricular circulation than in those patients with univentricular circulation (29% vs. 72%, P < 0.001). The pulmonary annulus z-score was an independent risk factor for reintervention in patients with biventricular circulation. Patients with biventricular circulation had an acceptable survival rate, but a high reintervention rate. Meanwhile, patients with univentricular circulation had high mortality before the completion of Fontan operation, although the reintervention rate was relatively low.