Assessment of Hypertension, Guideline-Directed Counseling, and Outcomes in the ACHD Population

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension were published by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2017. The prevalence of hypertension in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) under these guidelines has yet to be characterized. We sought to assess the prevalence, impact, and provider response to hypertension under current guidelines. Data were obtained retrospectively from records of routine clinic visits over a 10 year period. Potential hypertension-related adverse outcomes including stroke, myocardial infarction, surgical intervention for aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, atrial fibrillation or flutter, cardiac transplantation and death were recorded. The 1070 patients who met inclusion criteria had a mean age of 30.8 ± 10.0 years. The prevalence of hypertension under the 2017 guidelines was 46.6%. Multivariate modeling identified cyanosis, male gender, older age, and overweight/obesity as independent risk factors for hypertension. Guideline-directed management of hypertension in ACHD patients occurred more frequently in ACHD and adult cardiology clinics than in pediatric cardiology clinics (44.1% and 45.1% vs. 24.0%, p < 0.01, respectively). Adverse outcomes were reported in 217 (20%) patients, the most prevalent of which was atrial fibrillation or flutter (11%). Multivariable modelling for any adverse outcome identified older age, hypertension, cyanosis, greater complexity ACHD, and obesity as risk factors. Modifiable risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are common and often under addressed in the ACHD population.

Management of Coarctation and Aortic Arch Anomalies in the Adult

Congenital Aortic arch malformations are rare in adults. Often they present with hypertension or tracheoesophageal compression. The involved anatomy is dependent on the sidedness of the aortic arch and the variable development of the primitive pharyngeal arches. Sternotomy and thoracotomy are usually required for surgical repair, while need for circulatory arrest is not uncommon. With caution and adequate planning, surgery can be carried out with satisfactory results.

Mid-term outcomes with adult endovascular treatment of coarctation of the aorta

BACKGROUND

This study examines the contemporary medium- and long-term outcomes of endovascular repair of aortic coarctation in the adult.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical and imaging data of 56 consecutive adult patients with aortic coarctation who underwent endovascular repair at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 2003 to 2018.

RESULTS

There were 20 (35.7%) female and 36 (64.3%) male patients (including 9 re-intervention cases) with a mean age of 33.6 ± 13.6 years. Thirty-seven (66.1%) were treated with balloon-expandable covered stent and 12 (21.4%) were treated with balloon-expandable bare-metal stent. Pressure gradients decreased from baseline level of 27.99 ± 12.75 (8-70) mm Hg to 5.33 ± 4.42 (0-17.5) mm Hg following the procedure. There were 2 (3.6%) procedure related complications (aortic dissection [n = 1] and stent malposition [n = 1]). During a median (Q1 - Q3) follow up of 5.36 (2.28-7.58) years, 2 deaths (4.2%) and 9 (19%) re-interventions occurred, and the overall survival was 95.8%.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous coarctoplasty, with either covered or bare metal stents, is a safe and durable option for aortic coarctation repair with excellent long-term survival.

Exercise Capacity After Repair of Ebstein Anomaly in Adults

Repair of Ebstein anomaly has evolved over the last decade, and timing of repair remains variable. There have been no studies of exercise or functional capacity in patients who have had tricuspid valve surgery for Ebstein anomaly in adulthood. We aimed to compare exercise capacity before and after tricuspid valve repair or replacement for Ebstein anomaly in adults at Mayo Clinic. We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with Ebstein anomaly who underwent tricuspid valve surgery at Mayo Clinic between June 2007 and January 2015. We compared pre- and postoperative echocardiograms, exercise tests, and clinic visits. Tricuspid valve surgery was done for 322 patients, and 32 patients met criteria of native tricuspid valve repair or replacement at age 18 or older and had maximal pre- and postoperative exercise tests. Nineteen patients had valve repair, and 13 had valve replacement. Surgery for Ebstein anomaly resulted in significant reduction in tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular size. There was a significant improvement in NYHA functional class after surgery; however, there was no significant improvement in functional aerobic capacity (FAC), metabolic equivalents (METs), exercise time, or [Formula: see text] after surgery. Patients who had an atrial shunt closed during surgery had improved minimum blood oxygen saturations during exercise, though no improvement in exercise capacity. In our cohort, patients who had tricuspid valve repair or replacement for Ebstein anomaly reported an improvement in functional capacity; however, this did not reflect improvement in measured exercise capacity, despite excellent surgical results by echocardiography.

A successful report of mitral valve repair for parachute-like mitral valve in adult

A 65 year-old man was diagnosed with congestive heart failure secondary to severe mitral regurgitation resulting from a parachute-like asymmetrical mitral valve. We performed mitral annuloplasty and triangular resection of the thick tissue. The postoperative course was uneventful with no recurrence of mitral regurgitation.

Assessment of a novel radiation reduction protocol for pediatric and adult congenital device implantation

PURPOSE

Device implantation requires fluoroscopic guidance, which carries inherent risks of ionizing radiation. We evaluated the impact of a low-dose fluoroscopic protocol on radiation exposure during device implantation.

METHODS

All patients who underwent pacemaker or ICD implantation with new transvenous leads from July 2011 to January 2018 were included. A novel ALARA protocol consisting of ultra-low frame rates (2-3 frames/s), low dose/frame (6-18 mGy/frame), and use of the "air-gap" technique in patients < 20 kg was employed. Demographics, procedural data, and radiation exposure levels were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty patients underwent device implantation without additional catheterization, electrophysiology study, or ablation procedure (median age 15 years; range 5-50) with a total of 43 leads placed. Forty-seven percent of patients had a primary rhythm disturbance, 33% had cardiomyopathy, and 20% had congenital heart disease. Fifty percent were pacemakers (53% dual-chamber, 27% ventricle, 20% atrial) and 50% of devices implanted were ICDs (87% single-chamber). All implants were acutely successful with acceptable atrial and ventricular sensing and capture thresholds. The median fluoroscopy time was 11.5 min (inter-quartile range (IQR) 8.0-18.2), median air kerma dose 4.0 mGy (IQR 2.5-19.5), and median dose-area product 27.8 μGy/m² (IQR 17.1-106.5). Median implant procedure time was 133 min. One patient required revision secondary to device migration without lead derangement 2 days post-procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of a novel fluoroscopic protocol may help decrease radiation exposure to patients and staff without affecting efficacy or risk. These data may represent benchmarks against which future device implantation procedures can be compared.

"How long will I continue to be normal?" Adults with a Fontan circulation's greatest concerns

BACKGROUND

Little is known about adults living with a Fontan circulation's concerns outside the scope of their clinical outcomes. We examined adults with a Fontan circulations' greatest concerns, as well as their concerns around anti-coagulation, pregnancy and finances.

METHODS

Adults with a Fontan circulation in the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry were invited to complete an anonymous online survey, of which 57 participated. A qualitative method approach using thematic analyses was used.

RESULTS

The greatest concerns for adults living with a Fontan circulation were fear of death/uncertainty around life expectancy which for many individuals colored their concerns around physical health, pregnancy and having children, quality of life and finances. Improving information about outcomes to patients with a Fontan circulation might alleviate uncertainties about their future.

CONCLUSIONS

Fear of death is the primary concern of adults with a Fontan circulation. It may require improved communication and targeted psychological interventions. Physical exercise incorporated as part of their lifestyle should be encouraged to alleviate physical concerns and also improve psychological well-being.

Durable mechanical circulatory support in teenagers and adults with congenital heart disease: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Many patients are ineligible for transplantation, and those who are eligible often face long wait times with high wait-list morbidity. Durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may be an option for many patients. This systematic review evaluates the published literature on the use of durable MCS in teenagers and adults with congenital heart disease.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was performed electronically in July 2015 and updated in March 2016, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines.

RESULTS

Individual case reports and several case series identified 66 patients with ACHD treated with durable MCS. More than half were INTERMACS 1 or 2 at the time of implantation. Patients with Fontan repairs were more frequently classified as INTERMACS 1 or 2 (89% compared to 59% or less among other groups). Cases published after 2010 showed a trend toward less severe INTERMACS status, and patients were less likely to have received transplants by the time of reporting (31% compared to 61% prior). Durable MCS was implanted as bridge-to-transplant in 77%. Patients with Fontan repair accounted for 14% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Reports of durable MCS utilization in patients with ACHD are becoming more frequent and devices are being implanted in more stable patients. Reports are mostly case reports or small case series so reporting bias is likely and prospective protocoled reporting is needed.

The risk associated with concomitant procedures performed during adult congenital heart surgery

BACKGROUND

Adult patients with CHD often require complex operations, and indications for particular aspects of the operation are sometimes unclear. The aims of our study were as follows: to characterise concomitant procedures performed during adult congenital cardiac surgery, and to better define the risk involved with performing concomitant procedures during a single operation.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 458 adult congenital cardiac surgical patients. Major procedures were characterised as aortic, mitral, pulmonary, tricuspid, septal defect, single ventricle, transplant, and others. We constructed logistic regression models to assess the risk for mortality, major adverse event, and prolonged length of stay.

RESULTS

A total of 362 operations involved a single major procedure, whereas 96 involved concomitant procedures. Performing concomitant procedures increased mortality (7.3 versus 2.5%), major adverse events (21.8 versus 14.9%), and prolonged length of stay (29.2 versus 17.1%). The added risks of concomitant procedures on mortality, major adverse event, and prolonged length of stay were 2.9 (95% CI 1.0-8.5, p=0.05), 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.3, p=0.02), and 2.4 (95% CI 1.4-4.1, p=0.003), respectively. There were 200 patients with conotruncal anomalies who underwent pulmonary valve surgery. In this subset, the added risks of concomitant procedures in addition to pulmonary valve surgery on mortality, major adverse events, and prolonged length of stay were 6.6 (95% CI 1.2-37.3, p=0.03), 2.8 (95% CI 1.2-6.6, p=0.03), and 3.3 (95% CI 1.5-7.4, p=0.005), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Concomitant procedures performed during adult congenital heart surgery increase risk. Awareness of this risk may improve surgical decision making and outcomes.

Thrombolytics for late superior caval vein thrombus in a patient with tricuspid atresia and single-lung Glenn anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Those with cyanotic heart disease have an elevated bleeding risk but also are hypercoaguable. Treating haemodynamically significant thrombi in this unique cohort poses a monumental challenge. Case A 29-year-old women with tricuspid atresia and left pulmonary artery atresia presented with superior caval vein syndrome. She had a right modified Blalock-Taussig shunt as a neonate. A left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt performed later failed to establish flow to her left lung. At age 5, she had a Fontan procedure to the right lung but could not tolerate the physiology and had a low cardiac output syndrome. The Fontan was taken down and she was left with a Glenn anastamosis to the right pulmonary artery. She did well for years until she had dyspnea, upper extremity oedema and "facial fullness". On examination she was tachycardic, hypotensive, and more desaturated than baseline. She also had facial plethora. Decision-making Echocardiogram showed a large 9 × 3 mm nearly occlusive thrombus in the superior caval vein at the bifurcation of the left and right innominate veins. An emergent venogram confirmed the location and size of the thrombus. Given the thrombus burden and potential for distal embolisation through the Glenn to the single functional lung, we chose to treat the patient with thrombolytics. She had uncomplicated ICU course and was sent home on warfarin. Follow-up echocardiogram showed complete resolution of clot.

CONCLUSION

This case shows the importance of history and physical exam in caring for this complex cohort of adult patients with CHD.