Stenting the patent arterial duct to increase pulmonary blood flow.

BACKGROUND: Use of surgically created aoropulmonary shunt is well-established for improving pulmonary blood flow in infants with critical reduction in pulmonary blood flow. Recently, stenting the patent ductus arteriosus has emerged as an alternative in selected infants with congenital heart disease and reduced pulmonary blood flow. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed records of consecutive infants undergoing stenting of patent ductus arteriosus between August 2003 and October 2005 at our institution. Two of 12 patients underwent patent ductus arteriosus stenting to facilitate preparation of left ventricle for transposition with intact septum. We report the case selection, technique, immediate and short-term follow-up outcome in the remaining 10 patients [median age: 16 days (range 4-290 days): weight 2.7 kg (range 2-6 kg)] with reduced pulmonary blood flow who underwent stenting of patent ductus arteriosus as an alternative to conventional surgical aortopulmonary shunts. Five of the 6 newborns were prostaglandin-dependent and 4 had previously undergone guidewire perforation of the pulmonary valve (n=2) or balloon dilation (n=2). Successful stent implantation was accomplished in all with no major patient-related complication (median fluoroscopy time: 18.6 min; range: 7.7-72 min). The intensive care unit and hospital stays were prolonged in 3 patients because of sepsis (n=2) and pulmonary over-circulation with sepsis (n=1). On follow-up (median 5.5 months; range 1-19 months) all implanted stents were patent. One patient underwent re-dilation of the implanted stent for declining saturations. CONCLUSIONS: The immediate and short-term follow-up results of stenting of the patent arterial duct, as an alternative to the surgical aortopulmonary shunt in carefully selected newborns and infants is encouraging.

Transcatheter management of patent ductus arteriosus in sick ventilated small infants.

BACKGROUND: Large patent ductus arteriosus can present in infancy with congestive cardiac failure and superadded pulmonary infection can necessitate mechanical ventilation. Surgical intervention is traditionally indicated for this subset of patients. We present our experience of transcatheter coil closure of the patent ductus arteriosus in such infants. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five infants weighing between 960 gm and 4.1 kg, aged between 17 days and 3 1/2 months were mechanically ventilated because of congestive cardiac failure with pneumonia. Echocardiography showed patient ductus arteriosus with a size of 1.8 to 4.2 mm and adequate ampulla. Bioptome-assisted coil delivery was done and successful patient ductus arteriosus closure was achieved in all. There were two instances of embolization of coils with successful retrieval and redeployment. All infants could be weaned off mechanical ventilation over the next 24-72 hours. A pre-term infant developed a Doppler gradient of 25 mmHg in the descending aorta that decreased to 12 mmHg five months later. There was no significant obstruction to pulmonary artery flow in any child. At three months follow-up, all the five infants were asymptomatic with no residual flow across the patient ductus arteriosus. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter coil closure of moderate to large patent ductus arteriosus is possible in sick ventilated infants weighing below 5 kg. It may be a better alternative to surgery in selected cases in view of minimal morbidity.

Transcatheter closure of native pulmonary artery for the elimination of accessory pulmonary blood flow after bidirectional Glenn shunt.

We report a case where excessive accessory pulmonary blood flow via the native pulmonary valve after cavopulmonary anastomosis resulted in pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. This flow was successfully eliminated in the cardiac catheterization laboratory using an Amplazter duct occluder that was placed across the native pulmonary valve.

Long-term outcome of patients operated for large ventricular septal defects with increased pulmonary vascular resistance.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data regarding the long-term outcome of patients operated for ventricular septal defect with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated the long-term follow-up results of a selected cohort of patients with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (>6 Wood units). Thirty-eight patients, median age 7.5 years (range 6 months-27 years), with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect with severe pulmonary hypertension were operated between 1985 and 1996 at our institute. Preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance, ratio of pulmonary blood flow to systemic blood flow, and ratio of pulmonary vascular resistance to systemic vascular resistance were 7.63+/-1.8 Wood units, 1.9+/-0.48, and 0.41+/-0.12, respectively. The majority (68.4%) had perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Thirty patients (79%) had a good outcome and were asymptomatic at a mean follow-up of 8.7 years, with significant reduction in pulmonary artery pressures. Eight patients (21%) had a poor outcome, which included 5 immediate postoperative deaths, 1 late death and 2 surviving patients with persistent severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. There was no significant difference regarding hemodynamic parameters at baseline between those who had a good outcome and those who did not. Eleven patients with a preoperative pulmonary blood flow to systemic blood flow ratio of <2:1. who had a good outcome following surgery, underwent repeat catheterization at follow-up. There was a significant reduction in their mean pulmonary vascular resistance (8.03+/-1.4 v. 4.16+/-1.6 Wood units, p=0.001) and pulmonary vascular resistance to systemic vascular resistance ratio (0.41+/-0.12 v. 0.19+/-0.06, p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The late results of surgery on this selected group of patients with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect with high pulmonary vascular resistance are encouraging. Operative correction of the ventricular septal defect should be actively considered in all children presenting with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect with a significant left-to-right shunt, despite moderately elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. Even among older patients with ventricular septal defect and moderately elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, there is a specific group that does well after operation.

Coexistence of congenital subaortic and sinus of valsalva aneurysms.

We report a rare association of an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva and a subaortic aneurysm. Congenital defective union of the aortic wall and ventricular muscle with the fibrous ring is probably the explanation for this condition.