Long-term results (up to 17 years) of pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty in adults and its effects on concomitant severe infundibular stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty: A systematic review

There is conclusive evidence for relief of pulmonary valve obstruction immediately after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) and at follow-up. Development of infundibular obstruction is seen in more severe PS cases and in older subjects. Reappearance of PS was observed in approximately 10 % of patients following BPV. The reasons for recurrence were found to be balloon/annulus ratio less than 1.2 and immediate post-BPV pulmonary valve peak gradients greater than 30 mmHg. Recurrent stenosis is successfully addressed by repeating BPV with lager balloons than used initially. Long-term results revealed continue relief of obstruction, but with development of pulmonary insufficiency, some patients requiring replacement of the pulmonary valve. It was concluded that BPV is the treatment of choice in the management valvar PS and that balloon/annuls ratio used for BPV should be lowered to 1.2 to 1.25. It was also suggested that strategies should be developed to prevent/reduce pulmonary insufficiency at long-term follow-up.

Valvular heart disease in congenital heart disease: a narrative review

Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are one of the fastest growing populations in cardiology, and valvular pathology is at the center of many congenital lesions. Derangements in valvular embryology lead to several anomalies prone to dysfunction, each with hemodynamic effects that require appropriate surveillance and management. Surgical innovation has provided new treatments that have improved survival in this population, though has also contributed to esotericism in patients who already have unique anatomic and physiologic considerations. Conduit and prosthesis durability are often monitored collaboratively with general and specialized congenital-focused cardiologists. As such, general cardiologists must become familiar with valvular disease with CHD for appropriate care and referral practices. In this review, we summarize the embryology of the semilunar and atrioventricular (AV) valves as a foundation for understanding the origins of valvular CHD and describe the mechanisms that account for heterogeneity in disease. We then highlight the categories of pathology from the simple (e.g., bicuspid aortic valve, isolated pulmonic stenosis) to the more complex (e.g., Ebstein's anomaly, AV valvular disease in single ventricle circulations) with details on natural history, diagnosis, and contemporary therapeutic approaches. Care for CHD patients requires collaborative effort between providers, both CHD-specialized and not, to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Right Ventricular Growth and Function After Balloon Valvuloplasty for Critical Pulmonary Valve Stenosis in Infants and Neonates

Little data are published about right ventricular (RV) growth and function in infants and neonates after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) for critical valvular pulmonary stenosis (PS). We aimed to assess the RV growth and function during 1 year after BPV for critical valvular PS in neonates and infants. A total of 41 infants and neonates with isolated critical valvular PS who underwent BPV from August 2016 to Sep 2018 were enrolled in the study. Complete Echocardiographic examination was performed to all infants before, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after BPV. The RV systolic pressure and transvalvular pulmonary pressure gradient significantly decreased 1 week after BPV and continue to decrease more slowly during the period of follow-up. During follow-up, RV end-diastolic dimension increased significantly, whereas RV anterior wall thickness significantly decreased. The mean diameters of pulmonary valve annulus and tricuspid valve annulus significantly increased after BPV over the period of follow-up. RV systolic and diastolic dysfunction improved significantly as reported by reduced RV Tei index and tricuspid annular systolic velocity and increased RV E/A ratio. RV growth and function were significantly improved after BPV for critical PS in infants and neonates and catch-up growth of right ventricular structures occurred after 6 months of BPV.

A pilot study evaluating cutting and high-pressure balloon valvuloplasty for dysplastic pulmonary valve stenosis in 7 dogs

INTRODUCTION

This case series describes early experience and technical aspects of cutting balloon dilation followed by high-pressure balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in dogs with dysplastic pulmonary valve stenosis.

ANIMALS

Seven client-owned dogs were enrolled in this study.

METHODS

Dogs were prospectively enrolled based on echocardiographic diagnosis of severe pulmonary valve dysplasia, defined as marked valve thickening with variable degrees of annular hypoplasia or subvalvar fibrous obstruction and a peak echocardiography-derived transpulmonary pressure gradient higher than 100 mmHg. Preinterventional and postinterventional hemodynamic data and transthoracic pressure gradients were obtained for all dogs. Recheck echocardiography varied in timing by client convenience, with maximum follow-up 35 months after intervention.

RESULTS

No intraprocedural or periprocedural mortality was observed. The only major complication was partial avulsion of a cutting blade related to exceeding recommended burst pressure of the device, which was not associated with obvious clinical consequence. Invasive hemodynamic measurements demonstrated an average reduction of 46% in peak systolic right ventricular-to-pulmonary artery pressure gradient (range, 31-77%). The echocardiographic results 24 h after procedure demonstrated an average reduction in pressure gradient of 43% (range, 20-66%), with late follow-up demonstrating an average reduction of 35% (range, 10-57%) compared with preprocedural echocardiography.

CONCLUSIONS

This procedure is a feasible therapeutic transcatheter intervention for dogs with dysplastic pulmonary valves and appears safe in this small cohort. The ideal selection criteria and rate of restenosis for this procedure is under investigation, and long-term follow-up and a large, randomized, controlled study are necessary to demonstrate efficacy.

Pulmonic Valve Disease: Review of Pathology and Current Treatment Options

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Our review is intended to provide readers with an overview of disease processes involving the pulmonic valve, highlighting recent outcome studies and guideline-based recommendations; with focus on the two most common interventions for treating pulmonic valve disease, balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty and pulmonic valve replacement.

RECENT FINDINGS

The main long-term sequelae of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty, the gold standard treatment for pulmonic stenosis, remain pulmonic regurgitation and valvular restenosis. The balloon:annulus ratio is a major contributor to both, with high ratios resulting in greater degrees of regurgitation, and small ratios increasing risk for restenosis. Recent studies suggest that a ratio of approximately 1.2 may provide the most optimal results. Pulmonic valve replacement is currently the procedure of choice for patients with severe pulmonic regurgitation and hemodynamic sequelae or symptoms, yet it remains uncertain how it impacts long-term survival. Transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement is a rapidly evolving field and recent outcome studies suggest short and mid-term results at least equivalent to surgery. The Melody valve® was FDA approved for failing pulmonary surgical conduits in 2010 and for failing bioprosthetic surgical pulmonic valves in 2017 and has been extensively studied, whereas the Sapien XT valve®, offering larger diameters, was approved for failing pulmonary conduits in 2016 and has been less extensively studied. Patients with pulmonic valve disease deserve lifelong surveillance for complications. Transcatheter pulmonic valve replacement is a novel and attractive therapeutic option, but is currently only FDA approved for patients with failing pulmonary conduits or dysfunctional surgical bioprosthetic valves. New advances will undoubtedly increase the utilization of this rapidly expanding technology.

Use of Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for Periprocedural Evaluation of a Case of Critical Valvular Pulmonary Stenosis with Delayed Presentation

We report a case illustrating a 39-year-old man with delayed presentation of severe pulmonary valve (PV) stenosis, clinical evidence of congestive right heart failure in the form of enlarged liver, raised jugular venous pressure, and anasarca without cyanosis. Echocardiography (echo) was used both for diagnosis and monitoring this patient as main tool. The contractile reserve of the right ventricle (RV) was evaluated by infusion of dobutamine and diuretic for 4 days before pulmonary balloon valvotomy. Both the tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion and diastolic (diastolic anterograde flow through PV) function of RV improved after percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvotomy. These improvements were clinically apparent by complete resolution of anasarca, pericardial effusion, and normalization albumin-globulin ratio. The periprocedural echo findings were quite unique in this illustration.

First-in-Human Percutaneous Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty Under Echocardiographic Guidance Only

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) under echocardiographic guidance only.

SETTING

PBPV has become the preferred choice for pulmonary valve stenosis (PS). We report the first-in-human successful PBPV under only echocardiography guidance for isolated PS.

METHODS

From March 2013 to December 2014, 34 patients with congenital PS underwent PBPV with echocardiography as the only imaging modality in the ordinary operation room or catheter lab. Outpatient follow-up including chest radiography, electrocardiography, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was conducted at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

All 34 patients successfully underwent PBPV under echocardiography guidance without radiation and contrast agent. The pulmonic transvalvular pressure gradient dropped from 62.8 ± 10.1 mm Hg to 14.7 ± 4.2 mm Hg measured on catheterization (P < .05). The balloon diameter/pulmonary annulus diameter ratio was 1.34 ± 0.07. Slight regurgitation of the pulmonary valve occurred in five patients and mild pulmonary regurgitation occurred in one patients. The pulmonic transvalvular pressure gradient measured on TTE 12 months after the procedure was 14.1 ± 4.6 mm Hg. No pericardial effusion and peripheral vascular complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that PBPV can be successfully performed under only echocardiography guidance and appears safe and effective while avoiding radiation and contrast agent use.

Surgically treated pulmonary stenosis: over 50 years of follow-up

BACKGROUND

Surgical correction was the treatment of choice for pulmonary stenosis until three decades ago, when balloon valvuloplasty was implemented. The natural history of surgically relieved pulmonary stenosis has been considered benign but is actually unknown, as is the need for re-intervention. The objective of this study was to investigate the morbidity and mortality of patients with surgically treated pulmonary stenosis operated at Aarhus University Hospital between 1957 and 2000.

RESULTS

The total study population included 80 patients. In-hospital mortality was 2/80 (2.5%), and an additional four patients died after hospital discharge; therefore, the long-term mortality was 5%. The maximum follow-up period was 57 years, with a median of 33 years. In all, 16 patients (20%) required at least one re-intervention. Pulmonary valve replacement due to pulmonary regurgitation was the most common re-intervention (67%). Freedom from re-intervention decreased >20 years after the initial repair. In addition, 45% of patients had moderate/severe pulmonary regurgitation, 38% had some degree of right ventricular dilatation, and 40% had some degree of tricuspid regurgitation, which did not require re-intervention at the present stage.

CONCLUSION

Surgical relief for pulmonary stenosis is efficient in relieving outflow obstruction; however, this efficiency is achieved at the cost of pulmonary regurgitation, leading to right ventricular dilatation and tricuspid regurgitation. When required, pulmonary valve replacement is performed most frequently >20 years after the initial surgery. Lifelong follow-up of patients treated surgically for pulmonary stenosis is emphasised in this group of patients, who might otherwise consider themselves cured.

Balloon pulmonary valvotomy--not just a simple balloon dilatation

Balloon pulmonary valvotomy is the preferred mode of treatment in patients with isolated pulmonary valvar stenosis and has shown good long term results. It is generally considered a safe procedure with few complications. There have been however, case reports of potentially fatal acute severe pulmonary edema occurring after the procedure in some patients. The cause of this complication and its pathophysiology is still not clear. Its occurrence is also infrequent with less than 5 cases reported till now. We report a case of pulmonary valvar stenosis which developed acute severe refractory pulmonary edema immediately after balloon pulmonary valvotomy.

Percutaneous options for heart failure in adults with congenital heart disease

In the context of congenital heart disease (CHD), the complex biochemical and physiologic response to the pressure- or volume-loaded ventricle can be induced by stenotic and shunt/regurgitant lesions, respectively. A range of transcatheter therapies have recently emerged to expand the therapeutic potential of the more traditional surgical and medical interventions for heart failure in patients with CHD. Together, these complementary interventions aim to treat the growing patient population with adult CHD (ACHD). In this article, the most commonly used transcatheter interventions for heart failure in patients with ACHD are reviewed.

Evolving trends in interventional cardiology: endovascular options for congenital disease in adults

As increasing numbers of patients with congenital heart disease enter adulthood, there is a growing need for minimally invasive percutaneous interventions, primarily to minimize the number of repeated surgeries required by these patients. The use of percutaneous devices is commonplace for the treatment of simple lesions, such as atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, patent duct arteriosus, and abnormal vascular connections. There is also substantial experience with device closure of membranous and muscular ventricular septal defects, as well as more complex shunts such as baffle leaks after atrial switch repair and ventricular pseudoaneurysms. An increasing use of covered stents has improved the safety of aortic coarctation, conduit, and branch pulmonary stenosis interventions. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation now has an established role in the setting of dysfunctional right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduits or failing bioprosthetic pulmonary valves. Many patients remain unsuitable for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation because of large diameter "native" outflow tracts, however, various techniques have emerged and multiple devices are in development to provide solutions for these unique anatomic challenges. Hybrid approaches involving use of surgical and transcatheter techniques are increasingly common, serving to optimize efficacy and safety of certain procedures; they depend on a collaborative and collegial relationship between cardiac surgeons and interventionalists that is primarily patient-centred.

Pulmonary valve balloon valvuloplasty compared across three age groups of children

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of treating pulmonary stenosis with percutaneous valvuloplasty, and to compare them among three childhood age groups. All children under 15 years of age who had undergone pulmonary valve balloon valvuloplasty in Madani Heart Center from 2005–2009 were enrolled in this study. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL). Mean (± standard deviation) age of patients was 55.5 ± 47.4 months. Two-thirds of the subjects had moderate pulmonary valve stenosis. Balloon valvuloplasty failed in nearly one-fifth of the treated patients. There were 17 failures and two cases of mortality, descriptively less frequent among children >5 years; however, the observed difference was not statistically significant. Mild pulmonary valve insufficiency was a common finding.

Percutaneous Therapies in the Treatment of Valvular Pulmonary Stenosis

Transcatheter balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) is the standard of care in managing symptomatic patients with moderate-to-severe pulmonary valvular stenosis, or asymptomatic patients with severe pulmonary valvular stenosis or with moderate pulmonary stenosis and evidence of objective exercise intolerance or right ventricular dysfunction. This article discusses the incidence, causes, and pathophysiology of valvular pulmonary stenosis in adolescents and adults; its natural history and noninvasive evaluation; the current guideline-recommended indications for BPV; the technical aspects of performing BPV; the immediate and long-term outcomes after valvuloplasty; and the complications and safety of the procedure. Also discussed is the role of this procedure in neonatal critical pulmonary stenosis and in percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement for patients with prior pulmonic valve interventions or degenerated right ventricular pulmonary artery conduits.

Immediate- and medium-term effects of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in infants with critical pulmonary stenoses during the first year of life: A prospective single center study

BACKGROUND

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) represents the standard of management for all patients with severe pulmonary stenosis (PS) irrespective of their age. Nevertheless neonates and infants with critical PS represent a high-risk group that needs to be studied.

METHODS

The study population included 72 infants with severe congenital valvular PS and four infants with imperforate pulmonary valve (PV) who were subjected to detailed history taking, full clinical examination, resting 12-lead ECG, Chest roentgenogram and transthoracic echocardiography. BPV was attempted in all infants with a peak-to-peak gradient across the PV of 50 mmHg or greater at catheterization-laboratory. Full echocardiographic evaluation was done 24 hours after the procedure as well as 3 and 6 months later.

RESULTS

Seventy-six infants with severe PS or imperforate PV with a mean age of 5.63 ± 2.99 months were subjected to BPV with or without wire perforation. Immediately after the procedure patients had a significant reduction of the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) (104.69 ± 24.98 mm Hg Vs 43.6 ± 13 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and RV-PA systolic pressure gradient (PG) (82.5 ± 23.76 mm Hg Vs 17.35 ± 8.96 mm Hg, p < 0.001). The immediate success rate defined as the drop in the RVSP to less than or equal to 50% of the baseline measurement was achieved in 85% of the cases. There was a progressive drop in the PG across the PV by Doppler echocardiogram throughout a follow-up period of six months from a mean of 93.3 ± 28.2 mm Hg to a mean of 17.4 ± 10.42 mm Hg (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase of the mean PV annulus diameter after balloon dilatation (p < 0.001). There was also a highly significant inverse correlation between the growth of the pulmonary annulus and the annular size at the baseline before dilatation (r = -0.74, p value <0.001). The incidence of PR significantly increased immediately after BPV to 64% followed by a progressive decline over a 6 months period of follow-up to 20%. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) over the same period of follow-up (from 55.6% at baseline to less than 20% at follow-up).

CONCLUSION

BPV is safe and effective to relieve critical PS in infants during the first year of life. The balloon promotes advantageous changes in both, pulmonary annulus and PG across the RVOT. In addition, the Doppler gradient observations during the follow-up support the expectation that BPV is a "curative" therapy.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society 2009 Consensus Conference on the management of adults with congenital heart disease: outflow tract obstruction, coarctation of the aorta, tetralogy of Fallot, Ebstein anomaly and Marfan's syndrome

With advances in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, the population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased. In the current era, there are more adults with CHD than children. This population has many unique issues and needs. Since the 2001 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference report on the management of adults with CHD, there have been significant advances in the field of adult CHD. Therefore, new clinical guidelines have been written by Canadian adult CHD physicians in collaboration with an international panel of experts in the field. Part II of the guidelines includes recommendations for the care of patients with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and bicuspid aortic valve disease, coarctation of the aorta, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, tetralogy of Fallot, Ebstein anomaly and Marfan's syndrome. Topics addressed include genetics, clinical outcomes, recommended diagnostic workup, surgical and interventional options, treatment of arrhythmias, assessment of pregnancy risk and follow-up requirements. The complete document consists of four manuscripts that are published online in the present issue of The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. The complete document and references can also be found at www.ccs.ca or www.cachnet.org.

Long-term pulmonary regurgitation following balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonary stenosis risk factors and relationship to exercise capacity and ventricular volume and function

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to examine the prevalence and predictors of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) following balloon dilation (BD) for pulmonary stenosis (PS) and to investigate its impact on ventricular volume and function, and exercise tolerance.

BACKGROUND

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty relieves PS but can cause late PR. The sequelae of isolated PR are not well understood.

METHODS

Patients were at least 7 years of age and 5 years removed from BD, and had no other form of congenital heart disease or significant residual PS. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and exercise testing were performed prospectively to quantify PR fraction, ventricular volumes and function, and exercise capacity.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients underwent testing a median of 13.1 years after BD. The median PR fraction was 10%; 14 patients (34%) had PR fraction >15%; 7 (17%) had PR >30%. PR fraction was associated with age at dilation (ln-transformed, R = -0.47, p = 0.002) and balloon:annulus ratio (R = 0.57, p < 0.001). The mean right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume z-score was 1.8 +/- 1.9; RV dilation (z-score > or =2) was present in 14/35 patients (40%). PR fraction correlated closely with indexed RV end-diastolic volume (R = 0.79, p < 0.001) and modestly with RV ejection fraction (R = 0.50, p < 0.001). Overall, peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) (% predicted) was below average (92 +/- 17%, p = 0.006). Patients with PR fraction >15% had significantly lower peak Vo(2) than those with less PR (85 +/- 17% vs. 96 +/- 16%, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Mild PR and RV dilation are common in the long term following BD. A PR fraction >15% is associated with lower peak Vo(2), suggesting that isolated PR and consequent RV dilation are related to impaired exercise cardiopulmonary function.