Comparative effectiveness of devices for transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects: Systematic review and network meta-analysis

Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease, producing a left-to-right shunt in the atrial septum; the current preferred treatment is transcatheter device closure. The aim is to conduct a systematic review to synthesize information on the comparative effectiveness and safety of atrial septal defect closure devices. The methods used: a comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE®, Embase, and Cochrane Central databases was conducted. Studies comparing procedural and follow-up outcomes of atrial septal defect devices were included. Network meta-analyses were conducted to generate direct and indirect evidence for comparative effectiveness and safety outcomes between devices. The results are as follows: Twelve studies met our inclusion criteria and were compared in network meta-analyses. The meta-analyses evaluated contemporary devices: the AMPLATZER Septal Occluder; the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder; the Figulla Flexible II Occluder; the CeraFlex Septal Occluder; and the HELEX Septal Occluder. These studies represented 3998 patients. The primary safety and efficacy outcomes were device embolization and follow-up residual shunt, respectively. Secondary clinical outcomes included procedural success and major and minor complications. No differences were found between devices in terms of device embolization and secondary clinical outcomes. Follow-up residual shunt was higher with the HELEX Septal Occluder compared with the AMPLATZER Septal Occluder (odds ratio 2.92, 95% confidence interval 1.12-7.61). To conclude: although most outcomes were similar between devices, evidence was largely based on observational low-quality studies. There were inconsistencies in outcome reporting and definitions; this merits future studies, with head-to-head device comparisons and standardization of outcomes.

Clinical Use of the Amplatzer Device in the Management of Intracardiac Defects: A Single-Center Experience

Device therapy is a viable alternative to open heart surgery in the management of intracardiac defects. The Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) is one such device that has been adapted to close a wide variety of cardiac defects with few complications and a high success rate. This is a retrospective review of all the patients who received the ASO between 2012 and 2016 at the University of Kentucky. In total, 169 patients underwent percutaneous closure of a septal defect with Amplatzer during the timeframe studied, and of those, 91% received the device for an atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale. Patients presented with stroke, transient ischemic attack, migraine, dyspnea or other symptoms and were diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. All Amplatzer devices achieved successful closure without requiring a second procedure. Four patients sustained complications of the procedure, with two experiencing tamponade, one with hematoma, and one with cellulitis. The Amplatzer device was not directly implicated in the three fatalities that occurred within 30 days of the septal occlusion procedure. The ASO has performed very well at our institution and we expect it to serve additional functions as the field of transcatheter cardiology develops.

Imaging Techniques in Percutaneous Cardiac Structural Interventions: Atrial Septal Defect Closure and Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

Because of advances in cardiac structural interventional procedures, imaging techniques are playing an increasingly important role. Imaging studies show sufficient anatomic detail of the heart structure to achieve an excellent outcome in interventional procedures. Up to 98% of atrial septal defects at the ostium secundum can be closed successfully with a percutaneous procedure. Candidates for this type of procedure can be identified through a systematic assessment of atrial septum anatomy, locating and measuring the size and shape of all defects, their rims, and the degree and direction of shunting. Three dimensional echocardiography has significantly improved anatomic assessments and the end result itself. In the future, when combined with other imaging techniques such as cardiac computed tomography and fluoroscopy, 3-dimensional echocardiography will be particularly useful for procedure guidance. Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage offers an alternative for treating patients with atrial fibrillation and contraindication for oral anticoagulants. In the future, the clinical focus may well turn to stroke prevention in selected patients. Percutaneous closure is effective and safe; device implantation is successful in 94% to 99% of procedures. However, the procedure requires an experienced cardiac structural interventional team. At present, 3-dimensional echocardiography is the most appropriate imaging technique to assess anatomy suitability, select device type and size, guide the procedure alongside fluoroscopy, and to follow-up the patient afterwards.

Antiplatelet therapy in pediatric cardiovascular patients

Platelets play a critical role in normal physiologic processes such as hemostasis, wound healing, inflammation, and innate immunity. However, they also play a role in the pathologic process of thrombosis. Although antiplatelet therapy is most commonly used to prevent thrombotic events for adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease, children with certain types of congenital heart disease, stroke, and Kawasaki disease also are at risk for thrombosis and may benefit from antiplatelet therapy. Unfortunately, very little data on the efficacy and safety of antiplatelet therapy for pediatric patients are available. As a consequence, consistent clinical practice among pediatric practitioners is lacking. Furthermore, much of what is practiced results from extrapolation from adult studies, which may be problematic because many aspects of platelet biology differ between children and adults. This review discusses aspects of antiplatelet therapy for pediatric patients.