Role of cardiac rehabilitation in patient with pulmonary hypertension on functional capacity and quality of life

Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) continue to develop significant exertional symptoms and reduced quality of life despite receiving pharmacological therapy. Guidelines highlighted the importance of rehabilitation as part of management in PH. However, the cardiac rehabilitation program is still underused. We present a case of functional capacity improvement in patients with surgically corrected secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with PH who underwent cardiac rehabilitation program. A 30-year-old female with a previous history of surgically corrected ASD went to our rehabilitation program in our hospital. She had a 3-weeks program of rehabilitation, and there were improvements in symptoms, clinical parameters, and quality of life after completion of the cardiac rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation can be an adjuvant for pharmacological therapy for PH that has been proven to improve the quality of life in patients with PH.

Changes of Cardiac Rhythm after Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defect in Children

Background: Arrhythmias may complicate congenital heart diseases, such as secundum atrial septal defects. We aimed at following up the rhythm changes in children after closure of ostiumsecundum atrial septal defects. Methods: The current study was conducted in the Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Tanta University, on 60 pediatric patients who had undergone either trans-catheter or surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defects. Complete history taking and full clinical assessment were done. Echocardiographic assessment was performed to detect any residual defects, and assess chamber dimensions, and cardiac functions. Electrocardiographic assessment including Holter monitoring was performed within two months afterthe procedure, after six months, and after one year. Arrhythmias were classified into major and minor types. All results were statistically analyzed and tabulated.Results: There were no significant differences between the pre-closure rhythm and the rhythm after closure of the defects throughout the follow-up. The percentage of patients with major arrhythmias has increased from 6.7% of the total sample to 13.3%, 11.6%, and 11.6% in the early, midterm and late follow up respectively. The significant risk factors for postoperative arrhythmias were; pre-closure arrhythmia, right atrial dilatation, and serious hemodynamic instability in the early follow up. Conclusions: We concluded that arrhythmiaswere common before and after atrial septal defect closure, without significant differences. Pre-closure arrhythmia, right atrial dilatation, and serious hemodynamic instability are considered important risk factors of arrhythmias after secundum atrial septal defect’s closure in pediatric patients

Mid-term Safety and Efficacy of Transcatheter Closure of Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect under Transthoracic Echocardiographic Guidance in Children Weighing Less than 15 Kg

Background: Transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect is a safe & effective intervention in older children, & is usually done under transesophageal echocardiography guidance. However, the procedure under transthoracic echocardiography guidance, especially in smaller children, is done only at few centers, the data of which is scarce. Methods: A prospective study was undertaken to assess the mid-term efficacy and outcome of transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect under transthoracic echocardiographic guidance, in children <15 Kg. Results: Eighty three children with ostium secundum atrial septal defect were included in the study. Median age of the study population was 3.5 years (1.9-5.6 years), and median weight of 11.6 Kg (7.6 - 14.9 Kg). The primary and secondary procedural success rates were 94% and 96.4% respectively. Post procedure patients were followed up for 12-30 months. Device related major complications were encountered in 4 (4.8%) cases. The total occlusion rates of the defect at 24 hours, 1 month and 3 months post procedure were 94%, 98.8% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: The transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect under transthoracic echocardiography guidance, in children <15 Kg, has a high short and mid-term safety and efficacy.

Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome Two Decades after Definitive Surgical Repair of Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum

A 20-year-old female had undergone definitive surgical repair for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum soon after birth. She was referred to our institution with the chief complaint of clubbing fingers. A thorough examination revealed platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome due to an interatrial right-to-left shunt through a secundum atrial septal defect. Percutaneous closure with an Amplatzer Septal Occluder resulted in resolution of the syndrome.

Clinical evaluation of ostium secundum ASD treatment via one -stop hybrid and classical surgical procedures / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate clinical effect and safety of ostium secundum atrial septal defect(ASD) treatment via one -stop hybrid and classical surgical procedures.Methods 45 patients were diagnosed ostium secun-dum simple ASD by ultrasound cardiogram and clinical manifestation,they were divided into one -stop hybrid proce-dure group (n =20)and classical surgical procedure (n =25).Age,gender,weight,post operation hospital day,on -pump time,blood transfusion amount,drainage flow,incision length and incidence of complication between the two groups were compared.Results Age and weight had no difference between the two groups(t =0.40 and 1.64,P >0.05),but the proportion of female cases in one -stop hybrid procedure group was higher than post operation(χ2 =9.45,P 0.05).And one -stop hybrid procedure group was off -pump without blood transfusion.Conclusion One -stop hybrid procedure was simple,could make a quick recovery post operation and was an ideal method for ostium secundum ASD treatment.

Tromboembolismo pulmonar y comunicación interauricular tipo osteum secundum / Pulmonary embolism and interatrial osteum secundum

Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 45 años, de edad con antecedente de Cardiopatía Congénita Acianógena: comunicación interauricular (CIA) tipo Osteum Secundum (OS), quien de manera ambulatoria consultó para la realización de la evaluación Cardiovascular en preoperatorio de colecistectomía. En Rayos X y Angiotomografia de tórax, se evidenció tromboembolismo pulmonar (TEP). Paciente refiere disnea leve, inspiratoria, habitualmente asociada a leves esfuerzos por más de tres meses, negando otro síntoma pertinente. La ausencia de Enfermedad Tromboembólica venosa (ETV) del tipo Trombosis venosa profunda(TVP) y de factores de riesgo para un Síndrome de Hipercoagulabilidad, excepto el hábito tabáquico, aunado al antecedente de CIA tipo Osteum secundum y la falta de correlación clínica-imagenológica convergen para que la presentación de este caso clínico pudiendo ser mortal sea una condición rara, dado que durante la hospitalización se confirmaron los diagnósticos de TEP Crónico, Hipertensión pulmonar severa (HPS), en ausencia de criterios para Embolismo paradójico (EP), complicación descrita en este tipo de cardiopatía cuando hay hipertensión pulmonar asociada. Los métodos de imagen fueron esenciales para el correcto diagnóstico y el manejo terapéutico de la paciente, la cual evoluciona satisfactoriamente(AU)

A 45-year-old woman came to the office with mild shortness of breath for the past 3 months and the chest X-ray (CXR) and CT showed chronic pulmonary embolism (PE). She had a past medical history of non-cyanotic congenital ostium secundum atrial septal defect, severe pulmonary hypertension and active smoking status. The uncommon clinical presentation in this patient could have been fatal without the appropriate diagnose and treatment(AU)

Association of mean platelet volume with pulmonary artery hypertension associated with secundum atrial septal defect / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To observe changes in mean platelet volume ( MPV) and investigate its possibility as a predictor and influence in patients with pulmonary artery hypertension associated with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD-PAH) . Methods 627 patients who suffered from secundum ASD were included in the study from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Heart Center between January 2010 and March 2014. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had PAH or not (PAH group, n = 420 and non-PAH group, n = 207) . We also included 690 healthy people as a control group who received routine body check up at the same time. Examinations including complete blood count, serum biochemistry and ECG were done. Right heart catheterization examination was performed in patients who suffered from secundum ASD. Results The MPV was significantly higher in secundum ASD patients than in the control group [ (9. 4 ± 1. 6) fl vs. (8. 9 ± 1. 5) fl, P ﹤ 0. 001] . No significant difference was observed in MPV between PAH group and non-PAH group (P = 0. 268) . In univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, age ( OR 1. 401, 95% CI 1. 087 to 1. 806, P = 0. 009), RV diameter (OR 1. 101, 95% CI 1. 026 - 1. 181, P = 0. 008) and ASD defect diameter (OR 1. 064, 95% CI 1. 013 - 1. 118, P = 0. 013) were associated with ASD-PAH. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that age, RV diameter and ASD defect diameter were associated with ASD-PAH. Platelet activation exists in ASD-PAH, but this may not be the precipitating cause that contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD-PAH. MPV at admission does not predict the risk of PAH in patients with secundum ASD.

Bronchial compression in an infant with isolated secundum atrial septal defect associated with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension / 소아과

Symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with isolated atrial septal defect (ASD) is rare during infancy. We report a case of isolated ASD with severe PAH in an infant who developed airway obstruction as cardiomegaly progressed. The patient presented with recurrent severe respiratory insufficiency and failure to thrive before the repair of the ASD. Echocardiography confirmed volume overload on the right side of heart and severe PAH (tricuspid regurgitation [TR] with a peak pressure gradient of 55 to 60 mmHg). The chest radiographs demonstrated severe collapse of both lung fields, and a computed tomography scan showed narrowing of the main bronchus because of an intrinsic cause, as well as a dilated pulmonary artery compressing the main bronchus on the left and the intermediate bronchus on the right. ASD patch closure was performed when the infant was 8 months old. After the repair of the ASD, echocardiography showed improvement of PAH (TR with a peak pressure gradient of 22 to 26 mmHg), and the patient has not developed recurrent respiratory infections while showing successful catch-up growth. In infants with symptomatic isolated ASD, especially in those with respiratory insufficiency associated with severe PAH, extrinsic airway compression should be considered. Correcting any congenital heart diseases in these patients may improve their symptoms.

The role of transthoracal echocardiography in closing secundum atrial septal defects with Amplatzer Septal Occluder.

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) under general anesthesia has become a routine procedure as guidance in implanting Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) for closing secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) together with fluoroscopy in cardiac catheterization laboratory. To simplify the procedure and reduce the cost, recently we used transthoracal echocardiography (TTE) in guiding the ASO implantation. Aim of this study is to evaluate accuracy and performance of ASO procedure guided by TTE compared to ASO procedure guided by TEE. This is a comparative study. Ninety-one patients with ASDs referred for transcatheter closure with ASO in National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita Hospital Jakarta were reviewed. In the 22 patients, TTE were used as guidance instead of TEE. Patients selection were performed in the outpatient clinic by TEE. The stretched diameter was measured by TEE or TTE and fluoroscopy. Patients were divided into two groups, TEE group consisted of procedures guided by TEE, and TTE group guided by TTE. From 91 patients, 83 can be evaluated. It consisted of 61 patients in TEE group and 22 in TTE group. Measurement of defects sizes with TTE and TEE have a high correlation with fluoroscopic measurements (r=0.837 and r=0.853, respectively). There were no significant differences between the accuracy of TTE and TEE sizes measurement (p=0.085) compared to fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy time in ASO procedures guided by TEE was significantly longer than those guided by TTE (33.2 ± 21.3 min vs. 22.8 ± 19.3 min, P=0.014). There was also no significant differences in the failure of devices implantation between TEE and TTE guidance. All patients were in good condition at follow-up. ASO procedures guided by TTE have similar accuracy to those guided by TEE, with shorter fluoroscopy time. TTE guidance also has no difference in failure rate compared to TEE guidance.

Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava with Absent Right Superior Vena Cava and Large Atrial Septal Defect in Visceroatrial Situs solitus

Abscence of right superior vena cava(SVC) in visceroatrial situs solitus is a rare(0.07% to 0.13%) congenital cardiovascular malformation, and little is known about the type and frequency of additional heart defects and arrhythmias. We reviewed previous publications and report the case of 8 month old male infant with absent right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava and large secundum atrial septal defect, mild pulmonary valvular stenosis.

Clinical Course of the Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect(ASD) and Its Rate of Spontaneous Closure

PURPOSE: To know the natural course of the ostium secundum ASD including its rate of spontaneous closure. METHODS: We studied 259 cases who were diagnosed as ostium secundum ASD by 2D-echocardiography at Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University Hospital between Jan. 1985 and Dec. 1994. According to the age at diagnosis, we divided them into two groups, group I (those diagnosed before 1 month of age: 59 cases) and group II (those diagnosed after 1 month of age: 200 cases) RESULTS: Mean age at first diagnosis was 2.6+/-4.6 years and mean defect size(diameter by 2D-echocardiography) was 9.9+/-8.0 mm. Cardiac murmur was the main reason to refer the patients to hospital, being in 50 cases(87%) in group I, 179 cases(90%) in group II. Defect sizes were significantly small in group I compared with group II (5.3+/-3.4 mm vs 11.1+/-6.9 mm, p<0.05). Symptoms corresponding to congestive heart failure were present in 16 cases of group I (27%)( isolated ASD: 8 cases, ASD accompanying with PDA: 5 cases, ASD accompanying with VSD: 2 cases, ASD accompanying both PDA and VSD : 1 case) and in 27 cases of group II(13.5%) (isolated ASD: 17 cases, ASD accompanying with VSD: 4 cases, ASD accompanying with PDA: 4 cases, ASD accompanying both PDA and VSD: 2 cases). Of total 139 cases, spontaneous closure of ostium secundum ASD was documented in 14 cases(10.1%) by follow up 2D-echocardiography. The rate of spontaneous closure was significantly high in group I compared with group II (6 cases: 37.5% vs 8 cases: 6.5%, p<0.05) Comparing with those cases without closure, there were no significant differences in defect size in group I but significant differences in group II(p<0.05), being 5.63 2.62 mm in cases with spontaneous closure and 12.82 7.09 mm in those cases without closure. Of the 9 cases with atrial septal septal aneurysm, 2D- echocardiographic follow ups were possible in 5 cases with spontaneous closure in 2 (40%). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous closure was documented in 10.1% of all the patients with ostium secundum ASD. Especially the closure rate was significantly high in those cases their diagnosis was made before 1 month of age and with atrial septal aneurysm.