Spanish cardiac catheterization in congenital heart diseases registry. First official report from the ACI-SEC and the GTH-SECPCC (2020)

Introduction and objectives: The Interventional Cardiology Association of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (ACI-SEC) and the Spanish Society of Pediatric Cardiology Working Group on Interventional Cardiology (GTH-SECPCC) introduce their annual activity report for 2020, the starting year of the pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: All Spanish centers with cath labs and interventional activity in congenital heart diseases were invited to participate. Data were collected online, and analyzed by an external company together with members from the ACI-SEC and the GTH-SECPCC. Results: A total of 16 centers participated (all of them public) including 30 cath labs experienced in the management of congenital heart diseases, 7 of them (23.3%) dedicated exclusively to pediatric patients. A total of 1046 diagnostic studies, and 1468 interventional cardiac catheterizations were registered. The interventional procedures were considered successful in 93.4% of the cases with rates of major procedural complications and mortality of 2%, and 0.1%, respectively. The most frequent procedures were atrial septal defect closure (377 cases), pulmonary angioplasty (244 cases), and the percutaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (199 cases). Conclusions: This report is the first publication from the Spanish Cardiac Catheterization in Congenital Heart Diseases Registry. The data recorded are conditioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization still plays a key role in this field. Most interventional techniques have reported excellent security and efficacy rates.

TCTAP C-082 One Moment Percutaneous Treatment of Heavily Calcific Subocclusive Left Main Stenosis and Triple Coronary Artery Disease With Concomitant Severe Aortic Stenosis: Valvuloplasty for Impella Implantation and All Stenosis Treatment

Clinical Information Patient Initials or Identifier Number: CE 16/04/1941 Relevant Clinical History and Physical Exam: An 80 years of age lady without any previous disease were conducted to our emergency department due to dyspnoea lasting several hours. At arrival in our emergency department, the patient was still dyspnoeic. Her ECG demonstrated diffuse ischemic changes without certain site definite ischemia. Her chest X-ray showed thickening of the interlobular septa, peri-bronchial cuffing, thickening of the fissures, increased vascular marking, bilateral pleural effusions, cardiomegaly and aortic calcifications. [Formula presented] Relevant Test Results Prior to Catheterization: Her laboratory data revealed increase in myocardial necrosis markers as her TnI-HS was 3450 ng/ml and relatively normal values of other parameters. At echocardiography flash we found severe aortic valve calcification causing stenosis with peak gradient 48 mmHg, mean gradient 28 mmHg and diffuse segmental hypokinesis of left ventricle with global systolic function about 30%. The DAPT was started, and the patient was planned for coronary angiography within 24 hours of admission. [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Relevant Catheterization Findings: Coronary angiography performed through the right radial artery shoed ostial and mid RCA stenosis, severe calcific distal left main (Medina 1.1.1.), mid LAD and mid Lcx stenosis (Fig. 3). At the time of COVID any transfer to any surgical center was extremely difficult so after discussion with the patient and the family we fixed the RCA with one in the mid segment and one ostial DES. Then after aortic valvuloplasty (Valver 20 mm) for Impella 2,5 placement in the left ventricle was done. [Formula presented] [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Interventional Management Procedural Step: Through right radial artery access, the right coronary artery was fixed with stenting. Then aortic balloon valvuloplasty (Valve 20 mm). The Impella device was advanced and after crossing the dilated aortic valve the tip was placed in the left ventricle. Sequential predilatations of LM-LAD and LM-LCx with semi-compliant, non-compliant and scoring balloons were performed. For persisting of unacceptable for stenting result we continued the preparation of LM bifurcation with predilatation using intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) with Shockwave balloon on LM-LAD and LM-CX. Then we implanted one bifurcation dedicated stent Bioss Lim on the axis LM-LCx. After predilatation of mid LAD we placed one drug eluting stent from LM to LAD proximal through the Bioss stent (short culotte stenting). The procedure was ended with drug coated balloon on LAD mid and with drug coated balloon inflation on LCx mid. Then, Impella was removed, and vascular closure was achieved with Manta closing device. In the ICCU, the patient complained of intensive pain in the left lumbar and iliac region, nausea and severe hypotension (80/40 mmHg blood pressure). Contralateral injection demonstrated common femoral artery injury with large amount of blood passage in the pelvic cavity. A self-expandable covered stent 8 x 60 mm was introduced and placed at the site of artery rupture. The control angiography evidenced complete closure of the artery wall with no blood passage. [Formula presented] [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Conclusions: In time of pandemic restrictions, decision of treatment must be done using available in-hospital facilities. The presence of aortic valve stenosis and multi-vessel disease and low ejection fraction requires contemporary preparation of aortic valve for haemodynamic support during coronary angioplasty. Vessel preparation can be achieved with new devices as intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) to reduce the risk of complication. DCB are valid alternative to DES particularly in small vessels with long atherosclerotic disease. Vascular access site dramatic complications in the experienced hands and well-organized catheterization laboratory can be managed within the cath lab percutaneously.

Fifty years of pediatric cardiology (1971-2021): from Fontan's surgery to the present day

Pediatric cardiology has matured profoundly over the last 50 years, paralleled by a similar development in pediatric cardiac surgery and cardiac anesthesia. This field of medicine provides structured and effective care for a very heterogeneous group of diseases including congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies and heart failure, myocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, inherited and acquired arrhythmias, Kawasaki disease and more recently multisystemic inflammatory syndrome of children related to primary infection by SARS-CoV-2. This review summarizes achievements and results in selected topics of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery with focused attention to the diagnosis and management of congenital heart diseases.

COVID-19 in pregnant women with heart diseases. Adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Case series from in cor registry of pregnancy and heart disease

Background: Heart disease is the leading non-obstetric cause of maternal death during pregnancy. In this field, the emergence of pandemic COVID-19 has caused the worst-case scenario considering that pregnant women are more susceptible to viral infections, and preexisting cardiac disease is the most prevalent co-morbidity among COVID-19 deaths. Purpose: To assess the maternal and fetal outcomes of COVID-19 during pregnancy of women with heart diseases. Methods: During the year 2020, among 82 pregnant women with heart disease followed consecutively at the Instituto do Coração-InCor, seven of them with an average age of 33.2 years had COVID-19 during their pregnancies. The underlying heart diseases were rheumatic valve disease (5 pt), congenital heart disease (1 pt) and one case with acute myocarditis, without preexisting cardiopathy. The prescription (antibiotics, inotropes, corticosteroids and others) used was according to the clinical conditions required for each patient, however subcutaneous or intravenous heparin was used in all patients. Results: Only one case had an uneventful maternal-fetal course, the other six women required hospitalization / ICU for an average of 25.3 days, including the need for mechanical ventilation in two of them. Serious complications were related to respiratory failure (ADRS), recurrent atrial flutter with hemodynamic instability, acute pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock associated with sepsis which caused two maternal deaths. There were two emergency mitral valve interventional, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty and valve bioprosthesis replacement, respectively. There were five premature births with an average gestational age of 34.2 weeks of gestation, which resulted in one stillbirth. Pathological findings of three placental and the six-months follow-up of the babies did not confirm vertical transmission of COVID-19. Conclusions: The uncertain evolution given of the overlapping complications of three conditions-COVID-19, pregnancy, and heart disease-implies an increased risk for women with heart diseases of childbearing age, for whom pregnancy should be discouraged and planned after vaccination.

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty for urgent treatment of severe aortic stenosis during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a case report.

An 86-year-old man affected by severe aortic stenosis (AS) was referred to our institution owing to decompensated heart failure. Three months before, the patient was scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), which was postponed owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Owing to COVID-19 suspicion, he underwent nasopharyngeal swab and was temporarily isolated. However, the rapid deterioration of clinical and haemodynamic conditions prompted us to perform balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) as bridge to TAVI. The patient's haemodynamics improved; and the next day, the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for COVID-19 was negative. At Day 5, he underwent TAVI procedure. Subsequent clinical course was uneventful. During COVID-19 pandemic, the deferral of TAVI procedure should be assessed on a case-by-case basis to avoid delay in patients at high risk for adverse events. BAV may be an option when TAVI is temporarily contraindicated such as in AS patients suspected for COVID-19.