Anterior minithoracotomy: a safe approach for surgical asd closure & asd device retrieval

Abstract Objective: Midline sternotomy is the preferred approach for device migration following transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect. Results of patients operated for device migration were retrospectively reviewed after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect. Methods: Among the 643 patients who underwent atrial septal defect with closure device, 15 (2.3%) patients were referred for device retrieval and surgical closure of atrial septal defect. Twelve patients underwent device retrieval and surgical closure of atrial septal defect through right antero-lateral minithoracotomy with femoral cannulation. Three patients were operated through midline sternotomy. Results: Twelve patients operated through minithoracotomy did not require conversion to sternotomy. Due to device migration to site of difficult access through thoracotomy, cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic instability, respectively, three patients were operated through midline sternotomy. Mean aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were 28.1±17.7 and 58.3±20.4 minutes, respectively. No patient had surgical complication or mortality. Mean intensive care unit and hospital stay were 1.6±0.5 days and 7.1±2.2 days, respectively. Postoperative echocardiography confirmed absence of any residual defect and ventricular dysfunction. In a mean follow-up period of six months, no mortality was observed. All patients were in New York Heart Association class I without wound or vascular complication. Conclusion: Minithoracotomy with femoral cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass is a safe-approach for selected group of patients with device migration following transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect without increasing the risk of cardiac, vascular or neurological complications and with good cosmetic and surgical results.

Changes of the cardiac morphology and size after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect / 中国医师杂志

Objective To evaluate the changes of the right atrium,right ventriculum,left atrium and left ventriculum after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect(ASD) during a short to mid-term follow-up.Methods The right ventricular end-diastolic anterior-posterior diameter(RVEDD),right atrial long diameter(RADl),right atrial transverse diameter(RADt),left ventricular end-diastolic ante-posterior diameter(LVEDD),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV) and left atrial anterior-posterior diameter(LAD) in 36 patients with secundum ASD were measured before ASD closure,after 3 days,3 months and 6 months of ASD closure with transthoracic echocardiography(TTE).Results RVEDD,RADl and RADt were significantly decreased,while LVEDD,LVEDV and LAD significantly increased 3 days after ASD closure.During 3 months follow-up,RVEDD,RADl and RADt continuously became smaller;LVEDD,LVEDV and LAD continuously became larger.At 6 months,RVEDD was significantly smaller and LVEDD,LVEDV were significantly larger than those at 3 months.No remarkable difference of RADl,RADt and LAD was found between 6 months and 3months follow-up.Conclusion Transcatheter closure of ASD not only decreases the preload of right heart and causes right atrium and right ventriculum become smaller,but also improves the geometry of left heart and causes the narrowed left atrium and left ventriculum gradually return to almost normal status.