Device Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defects in Children <15 kg

Safety and feasibility of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in small children weighing less than 10 kg

BACKGROUND

When young patients with an oval fossa defect present early with symptoms of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, surgical treatment is recommended in small bodyweight rather than transcatheter closure.

METHODS

Outcomes of device closure in consecutive symptomatic children weighing under 10 kg were compared with young children aged below 4 years but weighing above 10 kg. Transthoracic echocardiography under conscious sedation guided the procedure in all without need for balloon sizing, transesophageal echocardiogram, and intubation anaesthesia. Symptoms, anthropometry, shunt ratio, pulmonary pressures, defect and device size, percentage oversizing, device/body weight ratio, complications, and post-procedural growth spurt were compared.

RESULTS

Ninety-six patients weighing under 10 kg were compared with 160 patients weighing above 10 kg. In total, 83.3% of patients in the study group and 25% of controls were severely malnourished. The median indexed defect size was 35.2 mm/sq.m and 27.4 mm/sq.m, and the device was oversized by 8.7% and 14.2% in the study group and controls, respectively. The device/body weight ratio was 1.93 in study group and 1.4 in controls. Procedure was successful in all except one patient weighing under 10 kg who had a device embolisation. Both groups showed significant growth spurts and proportion, with severe malnutrition reduced to 42% and 11% in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Device closure was feasible and safe in patients under 10 kg. Transthoracic echocardiographic imaging on conscious sedation provided adequate guidance. Symptoms and growth significantly improved after intervention. Despite a larger defect size, smaller patients had comparable outcomes. In symptomatic children under 10 kg needing early closure, transcatheter intervention should not be deferred.

Can Artificial Intelligence Revolutionize the Diagnosis and Management of the Atrial Septal Defect in Children?

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) present a significant healthcare challenge, demanding accurate and timely diagnosis and precise management to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare are rapidly evolving, offering promise for enhanced medical decision-making and patient care. In the context of cardiology, the integration of AI promises to provide more efficient and accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies for ASD patients. In interventional cardiology, sometimes the lack of precise measurement of the cardiac rims evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography combined with the floppy aspect of the rims can mislead and result in complications. AI software can be created to generate responses for difficult tasks, like which device is the most suitable for different shapes and dimensions to prevent embolization or erosion. This paper reviews the current state of AI in healthcare and its applications in cardiology, emphasizing the specific opportunities and challenges in applying AI to ASD diagnosis and management. By exploring the capabilities and limitations of AI in ASD diagnosis and management. This paper highlights the evolution of medical practice towards a more AI-augmented future, demonstrating the capacity of AI to unlock new possibilities for healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Influence of Diameter and Cyclic Mechanical Stimulation on the Beating Frequency of Myocardial Cell-Laden Fibers

Atrioventricular block (AVB) is a severe disease for pediatric patients. The repetitive operations needed in the case of the pacemaker implantation to maintain the electrical signal at the atrioventricular node (AVN) affect the patient's life quality. In this study, we present a method of biofabrication of multi-cell-laden cylindrical fibrin-based fibers that can restore the electrical signal at the AVN. We used human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) cultivated either statically or dynamically to mimic the native AVN. We investigated the influence of cell composition, construct diameter and cyclic stretch on the function of the fibrin hydrogels in vitro. Immunohistochemistry analyses showed the maturity of the iPSC-CMs in the constructs through the expression of sarcomeric alpha actinin (SAA) and electrical coupling through Connexin 43 (Cx43) signal. Simultaneously, the beating frequency of the fibrin hydrogels was higher and easy to maintain whereas the concentration of iPSC-CMs was higher compared with the other types of cylindrical constructs. In total, our study highlights that the combination of fibrin with the cell mixture and geometry is offering a feasible biofabrication method for tissue engineering approaches for the treatment of AVB.

Endovascular Closure of Secondary Septal Defect in Children with Low Body Weight

The aim. To assess the effectiveness and safety of transcatheter closure of a secondary atrial septal defect (ASD) using an occluder in symptomatic children weighing ≤10 kg. Materials and methods. In the period from November 2014 to June 2021, on the basis of the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, closure of secondary ASD using an occluder was performed in 18 patients, among them 13 women (72.2%) and 5 men (27.8%). Th e mean age of the patients was 18.94±9.44 months (the youngest patient was 12 months, the oldest was 4 years). The mean weight was 9.294±1.170 kg (6.4 kg to 10 kg), the mean Z-score was -1.7±1.5 (-4.6 to 0.46), the mean height was 80 cm (71 cm to 88 cm). According to the measurements by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the average size of the defects was 13.7 mm±3.6mm (the largest 18.0 mm, the smallest 6.0 mm). Results and discussion. In our publication, the effectiveness of the method was 100% (18/18), while the world statistics show 94-95%. Th e frequency of complications was 5.6% (n=1). We suggest that this is associated with the use of a sizing balloon and careful selection of the device. When choosing treatment tactics for symptomatic children weighing ≤10 kg, the decisive factor was the determination of the presence of edges and the size of the defect. Defects were considered suitable for closure, according to TEE data, when all margins of the defect were ≥4 mm, except for the aortic margin. Although the total length of the interatrial membrane was taken into account, it was not of decisive importance, since for most occluders with the presence of all edges, the fields of the implant could not interfere with the work of the anatomical structures of the heart. To determine the real size of the defect, we recommend a measuring balloon under TEE control. The following devices were used to close the defect: MemoPart ASD occluder, Amplatzer Septal Occluder, LifeTech HeartR Occluder, LifeTech HeartR Multi-Fenestrated Atrial Septal Defect (MF-ASD) Occluder.   Conclusion. After the study, we are convinced that the endovascular method of closing a hemodynamically significant secondary ASD for the treatment of children with a body weight of ≤10 kg has proven to be an effective method, with successful implantation of the occluder in 100% of cases.

An Up-to-Date Narrative Review on Congenital Heart Disease Percutaneous Treatment in Children Using Contemporary Devices

Background: Congenital heart pathology has a significant burden regarding morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Several transcatheter interventions and devices have been designed as an alternative to surgical repair. Percutaneous interventions have been proven to yield good results in most cases but with less stress and trauma than that attributed to surgical treatment, especially in frail pediatric patients. We aimed to review the literature and to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of transcatheter interventions and implantable devices for congenital heart disease management in children. Methods: We performed a search in Scopus and MEDLINE databases using prespecified keywords to retrieve clinical studies published between 2000 and 2021. Results: This article provides an up-to-date review regarding the applicability of interventional techniques in simple inter-atrial or inter-ventricular defects, and in challenging congenital defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, or coronary artery fistula. Furthermore, we reviewed recent indications for defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy, and new and promising devices currently being tested. Conclusion: Transcatheter treatment represents a feasible and efficient alternative to surgical repair of congenital heart defects. Novel devices could extend the indications and possibilities of percutaneous interventions in pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases.

Association between the Use of Diuretics and Size Reduction in Pediatric Atrial Septal Defect

The effect of diuretics on ASD size reduction remains unclear. In pediatric patients with a large secundum ASD (≥10 mm), diuretic administration seemed to be associated with changes in ASD size. There seemed to be a little possibility of ASD size reduction in case of rim deficiency other than the aortic rim. The patients receiving diuretics may have a lower possibility to undergo surgical closure. The diuretics administration may be associated with the use of smaller ASD devices.

Background and Objectives

While diuretics are sometimes used in atrial septal defect (ASD) treatment, their effect on ASD size reduction remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of diuretics in ASD size reduction in pediatric patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with secundum ASD (size ≥10 mm), between 2005 and 2019. Patients were divided into two groups based on the diuretic administration.

Results

Of the 73 enrolled patients, 40 received diuretics. The initial age at ASD diagnosis (2.8±1.7 vs. 2.5±2.0 years, p=0.526) and follow-up duration (22.3±11.4 vs. 18.7±13.2 months, p=0.224) were not significantly different between the groups. The ASD diameter at the initial diagnosis (13.7±2.0 vs. 13.5±3.4 mm, p=0.761) and the indexed ASD diameter (25.5±5.9 vs. 26.9±10.3 mm/m², p=0.493) were also not significantly different between two groups. The ASD diameter significantly increased in the non-diuretic group during follow-up (0.0±2.9 vs. +2.6±2.0 mm, p<0.001). The indexed ASD diameter significantly decreased in the diuretic group during follow-up (−5.7±6.5 vs. +0.2±3.9 mm/m², p<0.001). In the linear mixed model analysis, diuretic use was associated with ASD diameter decrease (p<0.001) and indexed ASD diameter reduction (p<0.001) over time. Device closure was more frequently performed in the diuretic (75.0%) than in the non-diuretic group (39.4%).

Conclusions

Patients receiving diuretics are less likely to undergo surgery. The diuretics administration may be associated with the use of smaller ASD devices for transcatheter treatment through ASD size reduction.

Procedural Predictors and Outcomes of Percutaneous Secundum Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Children Aged <6 Years

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is the treatment of choice for patients with a suitable ASD anatomy; however, the procedural characteristics and outcomes in children aged <6 years are unclear. The feasibility and safety of percutaneous ASD closure in children aged <6 years was evaluated and the predictors of procedural failure and challenging cases were identified.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients from a single center between 2006 and 2018 (n=407) were retrospectively evaluated. There were 265 (65.1%) female patients. The median age at the time of the procedure and ASD size were 3.4 (0.9-5.9) years and 13.3 (3.8-27.0) mm, respectively. Medical records and echocardiographic images were analyzed. A challenging case was indicated by the use of non-conventional techniques. The procedure was completed in 399 patients (98.0%). Post-procedural acute complications occurred in 5 patients, including 1 with device embolization. Two patients underwent surgical device removal. During the follow up (30.3 [3.6-140.8] months), aggravated mitral regurgitation occurred in 5 patients. A multivariate logistic regression revealed large-sized ASD as a predictor of procedural failure (odds ratio=1.828, 95% confidence interval: 1.139-2.934, P=0.012) and challenging cases (odds ratio=1.371, 95% confidence interval: 1.180-1.593, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous ASD closure is feasible and safe in children aged <6 years; however, patients with large-sized ASD are at high risk of procedural failure and becoming a challenging case.

Feasibility of Transcatheter Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in Low Weight Infants Under 2-Year-Old from a 3-year Retrospective Cohort Study

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of interventional treatment of atrial septal defect (ASD) in low weight infants under 2-year-old. Seven hundred and ninety-three secundum ASD patients were divided into 2 groups: 665 were above 2-year-old and 128 were under 2-year-old. The basic conditions before the operation, postoperative complications within 24 hours, and adverse outcomes during a three-year follow-up were compared between the 2 groups using multivariate analysis. There were significant differences in age, weight, and the diameter of the ASD between the 2 groups (p <0.001). The immediate success rate of the procedure was 96.7%. There were no significant differences in the success rate of the procedure, the incidence of residual shunt, arrhythmia, procedure-related arrhythmia, and occluder shedding between 2 groups (p >0.05). Similarly, we found no association between age ≤2-year-old and any adverse outcomes postprocedure within 24 hours, including procedure failure (OR = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.04 to 2.93), residual shunt (OR = 1.07; 95%CI: 0.54 to 2.14), arrhythmia (OR = 0.68; 95%CI: 0.32 to 1.43), or procedure-related arrhythmia (OR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.04 to 2.87). In the follow-up data, we found no association between age ≤2-year-old and arrhythmia (HR = 0.95; 95%CI: 0.50 to 1.80) and procedure-related arrhythmia (HR = 0.96;95%CI:0.25 to 3.64). Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated no significant difference in the occurrence of arrhythmia between the 2 groups (log-rank test: p = 0.776). In conclusion, percutaneous ASD closure in young and low weight infants has a high success and low complication rate, along with reliable effects.

Common Left-to-Right Shunts

Left-to-right shunts represent a significant portion of congenital heart disease. Such lesions are common in isolation, but are frequently seen in conjunction with other, often more complex, congenital heart disease. This review covers basic anatomy, physiology, physical examination findings, diagnosis and management for atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, and patent ductus arteriosa.

Outcomes of Device Closure of Atrial Septal Defects

Several devices have been designed and tried over the years to percutaneously close atrial septal defects (ASDs). Most of the devices were first experimented in animal models with subsequent clinical testing in human subjects. Some devices were discontinued or withdrawn from further clinical use for varied reasons and other devices received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval with consequent continued usage. The outcomes of both discontinued and currently used devices was presented in some detail. The results of device implantation are generally good when appropriate care and precautions are undertaken. At this time, Amplatzer Septal Occluder is most frequently utilized device for occlusion of secundum ASD around the world.

Percutaneous atrial septal defect closure in infant weighing <10 kg and having a bilateral superior vena cava: a case report

Percutaneous closure has become a preferred treatment for secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). However, this approach remains challenging in treating small infant weighing <10 kg because of procedure-related complications. The closure of ASD in other congenital anomalies, such as a bilateral superior vena cava (SVC), should be cautiously conducted. A 15-month-old boy with a body weight of 8 kg was diagnosed with secundum ASD (9–11 mm in diameter), residual pulmonary stenosis, and bilateral SVC. Transcatheter closure of ASD was successfully performed by using a 12 mm CeraFlex occluder device (Lifetech Scientific Corporation). Post-procedural examination showed good results without any impingement to the adjacent structure. Therefore,the transcatheter closure of ASD in infant weighing <10 kg and having bilateral SVC is technically feasible and safe.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in symptomatic children weighing ≤10 kg: Addressing unanswered issues from a decade of experience

Background and Objectives

Device closure of secundum atrial septal defect is shown to be feasible and effective in children weighing ≤10 kg. Issues such as how large is too large, how to choose device size, does the length of the interatrial septum (IAS) matter, and need for technical modifications for successful device delivery have not been systematically addressed.

Materials and Methods

This is a retrospective study, comprising 45 patients weighing ≤10 kg, who were chosen for device closure between January 2010 and June 2018. Patient selection was done on basis of transthoracic echocardiography. Device closure was done using Amplatzer septal occluder. The device size was selected primarily based on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-measured defect diameter. Although IAS length was taken into consideration, adequate rim size was the key factor in deciding device closure of the defect.

Results

Forty-three out of 45 patients had successful device closure. The mean age and weight were 25.71 ± 8.62 months and 8.99 ± 1.24 kg, respectively. The defect measuring as large as 27 mm (14.89 ± 3.89) on TEE was closed and device as big as 28 mm was successfully deployed (16.7 ± 4.31). Regular technique of device deployment was successful in only 15 cases. In the remaining 28, one of the modified techniques was used. There was no mortality, failure of the procedure, device embolization, thromboembolism, or pericardial effusion. One patient developed moderate mitral regurgitation and two patients had transient atrioventricular block. At follow-up, all patients showed significant improvement in symptoms and growth without any complications.

Conclusions

Defect size as large as three times the weight in kg can be closed in small children. Devices as large as 28 mm can be deployed in these hearts provided the surrounding rims are adequate. In majority of cases, one of the modified techniques is essential for successful deployment. IAS length is not a limiting factor for deciding the size of the device used.

The efficacy and safety of using amplatzer for transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in small children with less than 10 kg

BACKGROUND

Atrial septal defect (ASD) accounts for about 10% of congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Self-closure of these defects in patients with defects less than 8 mm has been reported in several studies. In children, transcatheter closure of the ASD is suggested for asymptomatic patients older than two years and with weight > 15 kg. The purpose of this study was to show that transcatheter closure of ASD in small children with body weight less than 10 kg is an effective and safe method.

METHODS

Between July 2016 and September 2018, 35 children with body weight less than 10 kg underwent percutaneous closure of ASD using amplatzer. All patients had minimum defect size of 6 mm, pulmonary blood flow (Qp) to systemic blood flow (Qs) ratio above 1.5, right atrial and ventricular dilation, symptoms of delayed growth, and recurrent respiratory infections in their evaluation and had acceptable rims for intervention. Follow-up evaluations were done 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and yearly after discharge with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and electrocardiography (ECG).

RESULTS

The mean age of patients at procedure was 12.06 ± 4.47 months (range: 6 to 14 months), mean weight was 8.32 ± 0.72 kg (range: 7.5 to 9.8 kg). The mean defect size was 10.00 ± 2.32 mm (range: 6-13 mm). The mean device size used was 10.57 ± 2.57 mm (range: 7.5 to 15 mm). Mean duration of follow-up was 16.66 ± 6.93 months (range: 1-29 months). Respiratory rate, heart rate, pulmonary stenosis (PS), and Qp to Qs ratio had significant difference before and after procedure during the follow up (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Transcatheter closure of ASD with amplatzer in symptomatic small children and infants is a safe and effective treatment associated with excellent success, but long-term follow-up in a large number of patients would be warranted.

Adverse events within 1 year after surgical and percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects in preterm children

INTRODUCTION

Atrial septal defect is the third most common CHD. A hemodynamically significant atrial septal defect causes volume overload of the right side of the heart. Preterm children may suffer from both pulmonary and cardiac comorbidities, including altered myocardial function. The aim of this study was to compare the rate of adverse events following atrial septal defect closure in preterm- and term-born children.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective cohort study including children born in Sweden, who had a surgical or percutaneous atrial septal defect closure at the children's hospitals in Lund and Stockholm, between 2000 and 2014, assessing time to the first event within 1 month or 1 year. We analysed differences in the number of and the time to events between the preterm and term cohort using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, a generalised model applying zero-inflated Poisson distribution and Gary-Anderson's method.

RESULTS

Overall, 413 children were included in the study. Of these, 93 (22.5%) were born prematurely. The total number of adverse events was 178 (110 minor and 68 major). There was no difference between the cohorts in the number of events, whether within 1 month or within a year, between major (p = 0.69) and minor (p = 0.84) events or frequencies of multiple events (p = 0.92).

CONCLUSION

Despite earlier procedural age, larger atrial septal defects, and higher comorbidity than term children, preterm children appear to have comparable risk for complications during the first year after surgical or percutaneous closure.

Case report: Atrioventricular block after transcatheter atrial septal closure using the Figulla® Flex II ASD occluder

We report a 7-year-old male patient who developed severe atrioventricular block after transcatheter closure of the atrial septal defect with an Occlutech Figulla® Flex II ASD occluder (FSO). He had a small aortic rim and the defect measuring 22.3 mm by balloon sizing. When a 24 mm FSO was deployed, he developed Wenckebach second-degree heart block; however, it recovered to sinus rhythm. Hence, the device was implanted. The rhythm deteriorated to a fixed 2:1 heart block within 7 hr. He underwent surgical retrieval of the device and closure of the defect. Intraoperative findings demonstrated the right atrium disk compressing the triangle of Koch, resulting in a small hematoma. The rhythm recovered completely by 7 days after the surgery. Care must be taken when a relatively large device is deployed in a patient with small rims as even "soft and flexible" device like the FSO can injure the endocardium.

Recent advances in managing septal defects: atrial septal defects

The purpose of this review is to discuss the management of atrial septal defects (ASD), paying particular attention to the most recent developments. There are four types of ASDs: ostium secundum, ostium primum, sinus venosus, and coronary sinus defects. The fifth type, patent foramen ovale-which is present in 25 to 30% of normal individuals and considered a normal variant, although it may be the seat of paradoxical embolism, particularly in adults-is not addressed in this review. The indication for closure of the ASDs, by and large, is the presence of right ventricular volume overload. In asymptomatic patients, the closure is usually performed at four to five years of age. While there was some earlier controversy regarding ASD closure in adult patients, currently it is recommended that the ASD be closed at the time of presentation. Each of the four defects is briefly described followed by presentation of management, whether by surgical or percutaneous approach, as the case may be. Of the four types of ASDs, only the ostium secundum defect is amenable to percutaneous occlusion. For ostium secundum defects, transcatheter closure has been shown to be as effective as surgical closure but with the added benefits of decreased hospital stay, avoidance of a sternotomy, lower cost, and more rapid recovery. There are several FDA-approved devices in use today for percutaneous closure, including the Amplatzer® Septal Occluder (ASO), Amplatzer® Cribriform device, and Gore HELEX® device. The ASO is most commonly used for ostium secundum ASDs, the Gore HELEX® is useful for small to medium-sized defects, and the cribriform device is utilized for fenestrated ASDs. The remaining types of ASDs usually require surgical correction. All of the available treatment modes are safe and effective and prevent the development of further cardiac complications.

Early Complications After Percutaneous Closure of Atrial Septal Defect in Infants with Procedural Weight Less than 15 kg

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital cardiac lesion accounting for 10-15% of all cardiac malformations. In the majority of cases, the secundum type of the ASD is closed percutaneously in the catheterization laboratory. Although transcatheter closure of ASD is considered safe and effective in pediatric patients, there are limited data regarding the efficacy and safety of device ASD closure in smaller infants. The aim of this study was to determine risk of complications within 72 h following device closure of ASD in children of body weight <15 kg compared to larger children. Overall 252 children who underwent transcatheter closure of ASD at Children's Heart Centre in Lund, Sweden, between 1998 and 2015 were included. Data regarding demographics, comorbidity and complications occurring during and after device procedure until discharge were retrieved from the hospital's databases. Echocardiographic data were obtained from the digital and videotape recordings. Nearly half of the study cohort (n = 112; 44%) had a procedural weight <15 (median 11.3) kg with a median procedural age of 2.02 years. Among this study group, 22 (9%) children had post-procedural in-hospital complications, of which 16 (7%) were considered as major and six (2%) considered as minor. No deaths occurred. There was no significant difference in of the occurrence of major or minor complications between the two groups (p = 0.32). Larger ASD was more often associated with minor complications, OR 1.37 (95% CI 0.99-1.89), which most often consisted of transient arrhythmias during or after the procedure. Percutaneous ASD device closure can be performed safely in low-weight infants with a risk of post-procedural in-hospital complications comparable to larger/older children. Nevertheless, careful considerations of the indications to device closure is needed, particularly in children with larger ASD, as recommended by the current international guidelines for ASD closure.

Guidelines for the Use of Echocardiography in the Evaluation of a Cardiac Source of Embolism

Embolism from the heart or the thoracic aorta often leads to clinically significant morbidity and mortality due to transient ischemic attack, stroke or occlusion of peripheral arteries. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography are the key diagnostic modalities for evaluation, diagnosis, and management of stroke, systemic and pulmonary embolism. This document provides comprehensive American Society of Echocardiography guidelines on the use of echocardiography for evaluation of cardiac sources of embolism. It describes general mechanisms of stroke and systemic embolism; the specific role of cardiac and aortic sources in stroke, and systemic and pulmonary embolism; the role of echocardiography in evaluation, diagnosis, and management of cardiac and aortic sources of emboli including the incremental value of contrast and 3D echocardiography; and a brief description of alternative imaging techniques and their role in the evaluation of cardiac sources of emboli. Specific guidelines are provided for each category of embolic sources including the left atrium and left atrial appendage, left ventricle, heart valves, cardiac tumors, and thoracic aorta. In addition, there are recommendation regarding pulmonary embolism, and embolism related to cardiovascular surgery and percutaneous procedures. The guidelines also include a dedicated section on cardiac sources of embolism in pediatric populations.

Shunt Lesions Part I: Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Atrial Septal Defect, Ventricular Septal Defect, and Atrioventricular Septal Defect

OBJECTIVES

This review summarizes the current understanding of the pathophysiology and perioperative management of patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and atrioventricular septal defect.

DATA SOURCE

MEDLINE and PubMed.

CONCLUSIONS

The four congenital cardiac lesions that are the subject of this review, patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and atrioventricular septal defect, are the most commonly found defects causing a left-to-right shunt. These defects frequently warrant transcatheter or surgical intervention. Although the perioperative care is relatively straightforward for many of these patients, there are a number of management strategies and complications associated with each intervention. The treatment outcomes for all of these lesions are very good in the current era.

Late complete atrioventricular block after closure of an atrial septal defect with a gore septal occluder (GSO™)

Temporary intermittent complete heart block (CHB) occurred the day after interventional closure of an ASD with a 30 mm Gore Septal Occluder (GSO™) in a 2 years and 11‐month‐old female. CHB disappeared without further treatment and stable sinus rhythm recovered within 3 days. Only short episodes of 2nd degree AV‐block (Wenckebach periodicity) at rare intervals were documented in Holter‐monitors the following 2 months. Eleven months after device implantation the patient suffered from long lasting episodes of CHB. Surgical removal of the device resulted in incomplete recovery of AV‐conduction. Histopathological work‐up of the explanted GSO showed complete endothelialization of the device and regular scar formation. One year after surgery, the child had sinus rhythm during daytime but needed VVI‐pacing while sleeping. Young age, inferior localization of the defect, and use of a large device have been individual risk factors for CHB in this patient. Clinical course and histologic findings indicate that mechanical compression was the only cause for CHB. The cumulative number of reports of CHB after use of different ASD‐devices supports the recommendation to postpone the intervention in asymptomatic patients to preschool‐age. Early removal of a pushing device may increase the chance of complete recovery from CHB. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Device closure of secundum atrial septal defects in infants weighing less than 8 kg

This study aimed to assess the technical aspects of atrial septal defect (ASD) closure using the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) and the Gore Helex septal occluder (GHSO) for infants weighing less than 8 kg and to determine the safety, effectiveness, and near-to-intermediate-term outcome of the closure. The Mid-Atlantic Group of Interventional Cardiology Registry of percutaneous, transcatheter ASD closure procedures was reviewed for this analysis. Patients from 10 hospitals in the United States were included. The cohort for this report consisted of 68 patients weighing less than 8 kg (range, 2.3-7.8 kg; mean, 5.5 ± 1.6 kg) and ranging in age from 1 to 24 months (mean, 8.6 ± 4.7 months). The indications for ASD closure were failure to thrive, significant right heart enlargement, shunts otherwise thought to be hemodynamically significant, and poor overall clinical status. Devices were successfully implanted in 66 of the 68 infants (97.1 % procedural success rate). Five minor procedure-related complications occurred. At follow-up assessment, clinical status had improved significantly as measured by improved weight gain and decreased ventilator or oxygen dependence. All residual shunts spontaneously closed during the follow-up period. Six late deaths occurred, none of which were clearly device related. The ASO and GHSO can be safely and effectively implanted for ASD closure in infants weighing less than 8 kg. These procedures usually are successful and seldom complicated, resulting in significant clinical improvement.

Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography of atrial septal defect device closure

Most secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) are amenable to device closure. Three- dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) can be used to obtain an en face view of the ASD and important surrounding structures which provides for analysis of the type, size, shape, orientation, number and position of orifices, ASD rims and important surrounding structures in a single live 3D echo view. Also, 3DTEE is ideal for monitoring the position and configuration of devices and delivery hardware using live real -time imaging techniques. In this chapter we will describe and illustrate the methods to obtain and optimize 3DTEE en face views of the ASD during device closure using 3D zoom, live 3D and 3D full volume plus iCrop modalities. The respective 3D TEE modalities, imaging protocols, advantages and limitations will be discussed. Because it is useful, accurate and fairly simple to use, we have adopted 3D TEE for routine clinical use during ASD device closure.

Reversible complete atrioventricular block after percutaneous ASD device closure in a child <15 kg

Transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in small children less than 15 kg may be associated with increased complications. Complete atrioventricular heart block (CHB) is a rare complication of ASD device closure in such a setting. We report the case of a 2-year-old girl, less than 15 kg, who underwent device closure of ASD with Amplatzer Septal Occluder and subsequently developed CHB 12 h after the procedure which resolved completely with steroid treatment on fifth day. Case report of a similar kind is rarely reported in the literature. Despite adequate postero-inferior margin CHB may still occur in small children as in our case.

Impact of the Amplatzer atrial septal occluder device on left ventricular function in pediatric patients

Percutaneous closure currently is widely considered to be the first-choice therapeutic option in the treatment of ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). The Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) device is the most used prosthesis, although its influence on cardiac function still is under active investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the ASO device size on left ventricular (LV) function in pediatric patients using the speckle-tracking strain imaging technology. The study enrolled 43 nonobese pediatric patients submitted to percutaneous ASD closure with the Amplatzer Septal Occluder device and grouped them according to the size of the occluding prosthesis into three groups: a small-device group (≤ 10 mm, group 1), a medium-size-device group (11-16 mm, group 2), and a large-device group (≥ 17 mm, group 3). Echocardiographic data were compared among the groups and with the data of an age-, weight-, and gender-matched control group (50 patients). The large-device group showed a significant impairment in the strain rate value of the basal LV segments. In particular, the mean basal circumferential and radial strain rate values were lower than either normal or the values of the small- and medium-device groups. However, only the absolute device diameter reached statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. The large Amplatzer Septal Occluding device significantly impaired LV systolic function, particularly that of juxtaprosthetic segments, as shown in the strain rate analysis.