Cardiac catheter intervention complexity and safety outcomes in adult congenital heart disease

Update on Transcatheter Interventions in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease

The field of adult congenital interventions is unique in the world of cardiac catheterization, combining the structural concepts commonly employed in pediatric heart disease and applying them to adult patients, who are more amenable to device intervention as they no longer experience somatic growth. Rapid advances in the field have been made to match the growing population of adult patients with congenital heart disease, which currently surpasses the number of pediatric patients born with congenital heart disease. Many congenital defects, which once required surgical intervention or reoperation, can now be addressed via the transcatheter approach, minimizing the morbidity and mortality often encountered within adult congenital surgeries. In this paper, we aim to provide a focused review of the more common procedures that are utilized for the treatment of adult congenital heart disease patients in the catheterization laboratory, as examples of current practices in the United States, as well as emerging concepts and devices awaiting approval in the future.

Changes in the Cath Lab in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: A 12-Year Experience in a Single Referral Center with the Establishment of a Dedicated Working Group

BACKGROUND

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are a growing population needing ongoing care. The aim of this study was to investigate if a dedicated ACHD team impacted the timing and indication of invasive cardiology procedures in these patients at our hospital.

METHODS

Our retrospective single-center study enrolled adult patients with moderate or complex congenital heart disease and with at least one cardiac catheterization between January 2010 and December 2021. According to the period, procedures were labeled as group A (2010 to 2015) or group B (2016 to 2021) and further divided into diagnostic (DCC) and interventional cardiac catheterizations (ICC).

RESULTS

594 patients were eligible for the study. Both DCC (p < 0.05) and ICC increased between groups A and B (p < 0.05). In group B: Fontan patients accounted for the majority of DCC (p < 0.001), while DCC decreased in arterial switch repair (p < 0.001). In Fontan patients, conduit stenting was prevalent (p < 0.001), while fenestration closures dropped (p < 0.01). In patients with tetralogy of Fallot and native outflow tract, percutaneous pulmonary valve implantations (PPVI) increased, with a concurrent reduction in pulmonary valve replacements (p < 0.001 vs. surgical series). In right ventricular conduits, ICC increased (p < 0.01), mainly due to PPVI. Among Mustard/Senning patients, baffle stenting increased from Group A to Group B (p < 0.001). In patients with pulmonary atresia and biventricular repair, ICC often increased for pulmonary artery stenting.

CONCLUSIONS

A dedicated working group could improve ACHD patients' indications for interventional procedures, leading to tailored treatment, better risk stratification and optimizing time until heart transplantation.

Successful complex percutaneous intervention in patient with Fontan circulation and severe heart failure: A case report

We report the case of a successful complex percutaneous intervention in a patient with Fontan circulation and severe heart failure. The patient presented with cyanosis; Fontan conduit stenosis was detected, and the fenestration was patent. The complex interventional procedure allowed for a long-term stabilization of the patient's condition.

Exploring procedure duration and risk for serious adverse events during congenital cardiac catheterization

Objectives

While procedure length is considered an important metric for cardiothoracic surgical procedures, the relationship between procedure length and adverse events (AEs) in congenital cardiac catheterizations has little published data available. Furthermore, most existing congenital cardiac catheterization risk prediction models are built on logistic regression models. This study aimed to characterize the relationship between case length and AE occurrence in congenital cardiac catheterization while adjusting for known risk factors and to investigate the potential role of non-linear analysis in risk modeling.

Design

Age, case type, and procedure duration were evaluated for relationships with the primary outcome using logistic regression. Non-linearity of the associations with continuous risk factors was assessed using restricted cubic spline transformations.

Setting and participants

All diagnostic and interventional congenital cardiac catheterization cases performed at Boston Children's Hospital between January 1, 2014 and October 31, 2019 were analyzed.

Main outcome measure

The primary outcome was defined as the occurrence of any clinically significant (level 3/4/5) AE.

Results

A total of 7011 catheterization cases met inclusion criteria, with interventional procedures accounting for 68% of cases. Median case duration was 97 min. A multivariable model including age, procedure type, and case duration showed a significant relationship between case duration and AE occurrence (OR 1.07 per 10 min increase, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.09, p<0.001).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the importance of procedure duration as a potential frontier for procedure risk management. Better understanding of the role of procedure duration in cardiac catheterizations may provide opportunities for quality improvement in patient safety and resource planning.

Isolated Coarctation of the Aorta: Current Concepts and Perspectives

Current management of isolated CoA, localized narrowing of the aortic arch in the absence of other congenital heart disease, is a success story with improved prenatal diagnosis, high survival and improved understanding of long-term complication. Isolated CoA has heterogenous presentations, complex etiologic mechanisms, and progressive pathophysiologic changes that influence outcome. End-to-end or extended end-to-end anastomosis are the favored surgical approaches for isolated CoA in infants and transcatheter intervention is favored for children and adults. Primary stent placement is the procedure of choice in larger children and adults. Most adults with treated isolated CoA thrive, have normal daily activities, and undergo successful childbirth. Fetal echocardiography is the cornerstone of prenatal counseling and genetic testing is recommended. Advanced 3D imaging identifies aortic complications and myocardial dysfunction and guides individualized therapies including re-intervention. Adult CHD program enrollment is recommended. Longer follow-up data are needed to determine the frequency and severity of aneurysm formation, myocardial dysfunction, and whether childhood lifestyle modifications reduce late-onset complications.

Transcatheter Intervention for Congenital Defects Involving the Great Vessels: JACC Review Topic of the Week

Since the development of balloon angioplasty and balloon-expandable endovascular stent technology in the 1970s and 1980s, percutaneous transcatheter intervention has emerged as a mainstay of therapy for congenital heart disease (CHD) lesions throughout the systemic and pulmonary vascular beds. Congenital lesions of the great vessels, including the aorta, pulmonary arteries, and patent ductus arteriosus, are each amenable to transcatheter intervention throughout the lifespan, from neonate to adult. In many cases, on-label devices now exist to facilitate these therapies. In this review, we seek to describe the contemporary approach to and outcomes from transcatheter management of major CHD lesions of the great vessels, with a focus on coarctation of the aorta, single- or multiple-branch pulmonary artery stenoses, and persistent patent ductus arteriosus. We further comment on the future of transcatheter therapies for these CHD lesions.

European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Study Group for Adult Congenital Heart Care in Central and South Eastern European Countries consensus paper: current status, provision gaps and investment required

AIMS

To examine the current status of care and needs of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) services in the Central and South Eastern European (CESEE) region.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We obtained data regarding the national ACHD status for 19 CESEE countries from their ACHD representative based on an extensive survey for 2017 and/or 2018. Thirteen countries reported at least one tertiary ACHD centre with a median year of centre establishment in 2007 (interquartile range 2002-2013). ACHD centres reported a median of 2114 patients under active follow-up with an annual cardiac catheter and surgical intervention volume of 49 and 40, respectively. The majority (90%) of catheter or surgical interventions were funded by government reimbursement schemes. However, all 19 countries had financial caps on a hospital level, leading to patient waiting lists and restrictions in the number of procedures that can be performed. The median number of ACHD specialists per country was 3. The majority of centres (75%) did not have ACHD specialist nurses. The six countries with no dedicated ACHD centres had lower Gross Domestic Product per capita compared to the remainder (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

The majority of countries in CESEE now have established ACHD services with adequate infrastructure and a patient workload comparable to the rest of Europe, but important gaps still exist. ACHD care is challenged or compromised by limited financial resources, insufficient staffing levels, and reimbursement caps on essential procedures compared to Western Europe. Active advocacy and increased resources are required to address the inequalities of care across the continent.