A rare cause of hemoptysis in childhood: peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm to bronchial fistula in a case with tetralogy of Fallot.

We herein report a patient complaining from significant hemoptysis due to secondary fistulisation of the peripheral branch of the left pulmonary artery and the left bronchial tree, which was successfully treated with a transcatheter angiography.

Experiences of Two Centers in Percutaneous Ventricular Septal Defect Closure Using Konar Multifunctional Occluder.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure of perimembraneous ventricular septal defect still poses a challenge due to the adjacent structures of the tricuspid and aortic valves and the risk of atrioventricular block. We report our experience at 2 centers using the KONAR-MF (multifunctional occluder) ventricular septal defect device, which gained its CE mark in May 2018. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on all patients who underwent transcatheter ventricular septal defect closure with the KONAR-MF (multifunctional occluder) ventricular septal defect device at 2 centers. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients were identified. The median age and weight of the patients were 25.8 months and 11 kg. The ventricular septal defects that were closed in 5 cases were post-operative hemodynamically significant residual ventricular septal defects. Forty-eight devices were used in the 47 cases. As for the location of the ventricular septal defect, 40/48 (83.33%) ventricular septal defects were perimembranous and 8/48 (16.66%) were muscular. The percutaneous device closure was successful in 46 procedures (95.8%). Device embolization was observed in 2 patients, and a significant residual shunt was observed in 2 cases. In the follow-up, there was no enhancement in the residual shunt in the remaining cases. Temporary atrioventricular block occurred in 2 cases during the procedure and improved after long sheath withdrawal. CONCLUSION: Soft, flexible, and low-profile KONAR-MF (multifunctional occluder) occluders ensure easy and safe implantation, and small sheath sizes allow for their use in small infants. Although near and mid-term follow-ups did not indicate any permanent atrioventricular block, a larger sample of patients and a longer follow-up period is necessary to understand long-term outcomes.

The Use of Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) Wires for Perforation of Atretic Pulmonary Valve; Two Centers Experience.

Pulmonary valve atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) can be treated either surgically or transcatheterly for eligible patients. Perforation of pulmonary valves using chronic total occlusion (CTO) guidewires has been reported as an alternative to radiofrequency (RF) perforation. We sought to report our experience with CTO guidewires for perforation of atretic pulmonary valves and subsequent balloon dilatation (with or without patent ductus arteriosus stenting) in patients with PA-IVS from two centers. A retrospective study was carried out on PA-IVS patients who underwent intervention between March 2014 and September 2019, in which CTO guidewire was employed for pulmonary valve perforation. A total of 26 patients were identified. The median age and weight of the patients were 5.2 days (range 1-21 days) and 3.1 kg (range 2.2-3.8 kg), respectively. All patients were situs solitus, except one patient with left atrial isomerism. The right ventricle (RV) morphology was bipartite in 22/26 patients and tripartite in 4/26 patients. Before the procedure, the mean saturation was 76% (range 70-86%) while the patients were under prostaglandin infusion. The pulmonary valve perforation attempt was performed with the Asahi Conquest Pro 9 CTO wire (n = 6) or Asahi Pro 12 CTO wire (n = 18) and/or Asahi Miracle CTO wire (n = 2). The procedure was successful in 20/26 (77%) patients using CTO wires. We analyzed the efficiency of CTO wire based on the subtypes: Conquest Pro 9 in 6/6 (100%) patients, Conquest Pro 12 in 12/18 (67%) patients, and Miracle in 2/2 (100%) patients. Before CTO wire usage in 3 patients, radiofrequency (RF) perforation was unsuccessful. Among these 3 patients, pulmonary valve perforation was successful in 2 patients with CTO wire; hence, in the remaining patient, perforation was also unsuccessful with CTO wire. After CTO wire perforation was unsuccessful in 6 patients, RF perforation was attempted in 3 patients (2 successful attempts and 1 unsuccessful attempts), and one patient as referred to surgery. Desaturation was persistent in 19 cases, which necessitated ductus arteriosus stenting. Early procedural complication was observed in 3/26 (11%) patients. Two of these patients had vascular complications due to the sheath, which was treated with heparin infusion and streptokinase, and the remaining patient had sudden bradycardia and cardiac arrest during the procedure and did not respond to cardiac resuscitation. CTO wires should be keep in mind for atretic pulmonary valve perforation as a first choice or when RF perforation is unsuccessful.

Current Strategies for the Management of Anomalous Origin of Coronary Arteries from the Pulmonary Artery.

INTRODUCTION: The coronary arteries, which have to originate from the aorta, may sometimes rise from the pulmonary artery. This study evaluated clinical and diagnostic findings, treatment methods, and follow up of cases with anomalous coronary arteries arising from the pulmonary artery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients with the diagnosis of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) (N = 6) and anomalous right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) (N = 2), between January 2014 and January 2020 from a single center university hospital, were included in the study. Data from patients' demographic characteristics, electrocardiography, echocardiography, angiographic findings, operation, hospitalization, and follow up were evaluated. RESULTS: The study included eight patients (six females and two males) - six patients with ALCAPA and two with ARCAPA. The ages of the patients ranged between 3-135 (average: 53.25) months. The median body weight was calculated as 17.4 kg. Severe mitral valve insufficiency was detected in two patients and two other patients had a moderate degree of mitral insufficiency on echocardiography. Ejection fractions ranged between 16-74%. One patient had perimembranous malalignment large ventricular septal defect with pulmonary stenosis. Operative techniques were Takeuchi procedure (three patients), direct implantation (four patients), and left internal thoracic artery to left main coronary artery bypass (one patient). Mechanical cardiac support was not required in the postoperative period. Mortality did not occur. Mitral insufficiency and ejection fractions improved following correction of the coronary anatomy. CONCLUSION: It is important to diagnose the ALCAPA or ARCAPA, where the coronary artery originates from the pulmonary artery. Patients should be treated before congestive heart failure and fatal complications occur. Surgical correction should be planned regardless of symptom status, even though some of patients reach adulthood with an increased number of collaterals.

Ligation of patent ductus arteriosus through anterior thoracotomy in preterm infants: a 10-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to report on the short-term and mid-term outcomes of preterm infants who underwent patent ductus arteriosus ligation through anterior mini-thoracotomy. METHODS: Data for 103 preterm infants who underwent patent ductus arteriosus clipping through an anterior mini-thoracotomy at the 2nd intercostal space between 2009 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to their weight at the time of surgery. The complications, morbidity, and mortality rates of each group were compared at postoperative day 30 and at the end of 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: During the operation, the median weight of the patients was 900 g (IQR 800-1125 g), the median age was 21 days (IQR 14.5-29 days). The lowest body weight was 460 g. In three patients (3%), there was intraoperative bleeding from the patent ductus arteriosus that required transition to median sternotomy. In one patient (1%) a residual patent ductus arteriosus that required reoperation was observed. Twelve patients (12%) died in the first 30 days postoperatively. Six patients (6%) died between the postoperative day 30 and 1 year. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of mortality, morbidity, and complication between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our observations of over a hundred preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus over a decade, ligation through anterior mini-thoracotomy is the main surgical procedure of choice for this patient group in our clinic. Our findings demonstrate the safety of this approach and we believe that it can be successfully replicated in other institutions.

Right ventricular outflow tract stenting during neonatal and infancy periods: A multi-center, retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of right ventricular outflow tract stenting for palliation during the newborn and infancy periods. METHODS: Between January 2013 and January 2018, a total of 38 patients (20 males, 18 females; median age 51 days; range, 3 days to 9 months) who underwent transcatheter right ventricular outflow tract stenting in three centers were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, cardiac pathologies, angiographic procedural, and clinical follow-up data of the patients were recorded. RESULTS: The diagnoses of the cases were tetralogy of Fallot (n=27), double outlet right ventricle (n=8), complex congenital heart disease (n=2), and Ebstein"s anomaly (n=1). The median weight at the time of stent implantation was 3.5 (range, 2 to 10) kg. Five cases had genetic abnormalities. The median pre-procedural oxygen saturation was 63% (range, 44 to 80%), and the median procedural time was 60 (range, 25 to 120) min. Acute procedural success ratio was 87%. Reintervention was needed in seven of patients due to stent narrowing during follow-up. During follow-up period, seven cases died. Total correction surgery was performed in 26 patients without any mortality. While a transannular patch was used in 22 patients, valve protective surgery was implemented in two patients, and the bidirectional Glenn procedure was performed in two patients. CONCLUSION: Based on our study results, right ventricular outflow tract stenting is a form of palliation which should be considered particularly in cases in whom total correction surgery is unable to be performed due to morbidity.

Off-pump ascending aorta or aortic arch to descending aorta bypass with a pericardial roll for the treatment of critically ill infants with interrupted aortic arch.

AIM: Standard surgical treatment of the interrupted aortic arch with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass is risky especially in critically ill babies. In this manuscript, we present the results of off-pump pericardial roll bypass for the treatment of aortic interruption. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The technique was applied in nine critically ill infants between July 2011 and December 2019. Data were reviewed retrospectively. There were four girls and five boys. The types of the interruption were type B in six cases and type A in three babies. Additional cardiovascular anomalies were ventricular septal defect in all, atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale in all, single-ventricle pathologies in two and bicuspid aortic valve in three cases. All the patients were in critical situations such as intubated, having symptoms of infection, congestive heart failure or ischaemia and malperfusion leading visceral organ dysfunction. RESULTS: All patients underwent off-pump ascending aorta or aortic arch to descending aorta bypass with a pericardial roll. Post-operative early mortality occurred in one patient with severe mitral regurgitation due to cardio-septic shock. One patient who had single-ventricle pathology underwent bidirectional Glenn and was lost on the post-operative 26th day due to sepsis 2 years after operation. Two patients presented with dilatation of the pericardial tube 18 and 24 months after the operations and one underwent reconstruction of the neo-arch. The remaining patients are asymptomatic, active and within normal limits of body and mental growth. CONCLUSION: Treatment of interrupted aortic arch with a bypass with an autologous pericardial roll treated with gluteraldehyde without cardiopulmonary bypass seems a safe and reliable technique especially for the treatment of critically ill infants.

Congenital cardiac interventions during the peak phase of COVID-19 pandemics in the country in a pandemics hospital in Istanbul.

INTRODUCTION: In this report, we aim to present our algorithm and results of patients with congenital cardiac disorders who underwent surgical or interventional procedures during the peak phase of the pandemics in our country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The first COVID-19 case was diagnosed in Turkey on 11 March, 2020, and the peak phase seemed to end by the end of April. All the patients whom were referred, treated, or previously operated but still at the hospital during the peak phase of COVID-19 pandemics in the country were included into this retrospective study. Patient's diagnosis, interventions, adverse events, and early post-procedural courses were studied. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with various diagnoses of congenital cardiovascular disorders were retrospectively reviewed. Ages of the patients ranged between 2 days and 16 years. Seventeen cases were males and 14 cases were females. Elective cases were postponed. Priority was given to interventional procedures, and five cases were treated percutaneously. Palliative procedures were preferred in patients whom presumably would require long hospital stay. Corrective procedures were not hesitated in prioritised stable patients. Mortality occurred in one patient. Eight patients out of 151 ICU admissions were diagnosed with COVID-19, and they were transferred to COVID-19 ICU immediately. Three nurses whom also took care of the paediatric cases became infected with SARS-CoV-2; however, the children did not catch the disease. CONCLUSION: Mandatory and emergent congenital cardiac percutaneous and surgical procedures may be performed with similar postoperative risks as there are no pandemics with meticulous care and preventive measures.

Comparison of Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Children, Adolescents and adults: Differences, Challenges and Short-, Mid- and Long-Term Results.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the characteristics, effectiveness and results of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect between children, adolescents, and adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this study, 683 patients who underwent atrial septal defect closure in the last 10 years were divided into three groups: children (age <12), adolescents (age 12 to 16), and adults (age >16) as group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively. RESULTS: The average defect size and incidence of complex atrial septal defect were higher in group 3 (p=0.0001 and 0.03 respectively). While the average size of the devic was higher in adults (22.6±6.4 mm vs. 18.5±4.9 mm; p=0.0001), the ratio of the device size/total septum was higher in both children and adolescents (Group 1 and 2). In the child and adolescent groups and patients with only complex atrial septal defect, the use of techniques, other than standard deployment, was similar in all three groups (p=0.86 and 0.41, respectively). The ratio of the residual shunt was similar in all three groups. Major complications were seen in 5 cases (4 cases with migration, and 1 case with dislocation) in group 3 and 1 case (migration) in group 1. CONCLUSION: Depending on the complexity of the defect and age of the patient, transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect might have certain difficulties and complications. Patients must be evaluated in detail to avoid major complications and possible problems during the procedure.

The different cutaneous presentations in three cases of Kawasaki disease as confounding factor of diagnosis.

We report three paediatric cases of Kawasaki disease (KD). Erythema multiforme (EM) was the presenting cutaneous feature in two patients, with young age (43 days old), macular rash and meningitis in the third patient. Diagnosis of KD was difficult due either to initial misdiagnosis of drug eruption, incomplete presentation, or the young age of the patient. Clinicians should be aware of these cutaneous presentations to prevent KD complications.

A rare coronary anomaly with masked diagnosis: Anomalous left circumflex artery from right pulmonary artery.

Anomalous origin of the circumflex coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital coronary anomaly. While it generally follows an asymptomatic course, if undiagnosed it may lead to severe clinical outcomes, including sudden death. The condition can be masked by associated defects, so when it is clinically suspected, diagnosis must be confirmed by conventional and/or magnetic resonance angiography, even if echocardiography clearly shows coronary roots. This report describes a patient who underwent neonatal surgery for aortic coarctation and was diagnosed with coronary artery anomaly at 15 months old.

Cardiac Interventions in Pregnant Patients without Fluoroscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac interventions with fluoroscopy during pregnancy carry significant risks for the fetus. This report reviews three pregnant patients: two of them requiring pacemaker implantation and one underwent diagnostic cardiac catheterization without fluoroscopy. METHODS: The cases were performed using EnSite system (St. Jude Medical Inc., MN, USA) guidance. The necessary cardiac structure geometries were reconstructed with a deflectable quadripolar electrophysiology catheter without fluoroscopy. In two cases, pacemaker leads were connected to the EnSite system for navigation and fixation of leads. In the third case, long sheaths and electrophysiology catheters were used to access the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. Transthoracic echocardiography was also used in all three cases. RESULTS: A 31-year-old woman at 8-week pregnancy was admitted with ventricular septal defect and significant pulmonary hypertension. The patient underwent catheterization to assess for the risk of continuation of pregnancy. There was partial reactivity, it was decided not to terminate the pregnancy, and an uneventful delivery was succeeded at 35 weeks of gestation without complications. The rest of the two pregnant patients were a 28-year-old pregnant woman at 14 weeks of gestation and a 40-year-old woman at 12-week gestation. Both of them presented with symptomatic complete AV block. A single-chamber pacemaker was implanted in the first one, and a dual-chamber pacemaker was implanted in the latter. Pregnancy continued in both without complications. CONCLUSION: Successful cardiac catheterization and pacemaker implantation can be performed safely in selected pregnant patients using an electroanatomic mapping system guidance without fluoroscopy.

A multicentre, comparative study of Cera septal occluder versus AMPLATZER Septal Occluder in transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects.

AIMS: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the new Cera septal occluder (CSO) for atrial septal defect (ASD) closure as compared to the AMPLATZER Septal Occluder (ASO). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 405 ASD patients receiving CSO or ASO were studied. The ASDs were classified into simple defects (isolated defects <26 mm) or complex defects (isolated defects ≥26 mm, large defects with a deficient rim, double or multi-fenestrated defects). Clinical and echocardiographic findings were collected before discharge, at one month, and every six months after implantation. Two hundred and five (133 females, aged 30±13 years) and 200 (135 females, aged 28±14 years) patients received CSO and ASO implants, respectively. The CSO group had similar ASD and device sizes, prevalence of complex lesions, procedural times and success rates as compared to the ASO group. Echocardiographic follow-up at one and six months showed similar residual shunts between devices. Both groups had similar rates for device embolisation and atrial arrhythmia. The average equipment cost per patient was lower in the CSO group than in the ASO group (US $3,500 vs. US$5,600, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter ASD closure with CSO is safe and effective. It appears to be an attractive alternative to ASO because of its relatively low cost.

Percutaneous closure of large VSD using a home-made fenestrated atrial septal occluder in 18-year-old with pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Hemodynamically significant muscular ventricular septal defects in children after the infantile period are a rare occurrence and ideal for transcatheter closure. In cases of severe concomitant pulmonary hypertension, it may be necessary to fenestrate the device. In this report, we present an 18-year old patient with a large mid-trabecular ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary hypertension that underwent percutaneous closure of the defect with a home-made fenestrated atrial septal occluder. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old female patient referred to us with complaints of dyspnea (NYHA score of 2-3). Physical examination revealed an apical rumble and a harsh second heart sound. Echocardiographic examination revealed a large mid-trabecular ventricular septal defect with bidirectional shunt and the widest diameter measuring 22 mm on 2D echocardiography. Left and right heart cavities were enlarged. Before and after the vasoreactivity test performed during cardiac catheterization, average aortic pressure was 65 → 86 mmHg, average pulmonary artery pressure: 58 → 73 mmHg, Qp/Qs: 1.6 → 3.2, PVR: 4.6 → 4.3 Wood/U/m2 and PVR/SVR: 0.5 → 0.2. On left-ventricular angiocardiogram, the largest end-diastolic defect diameter was 21 mm. The closure procedure was performed with transthoracic echocardiographic guidance, using a 24 mm Cera septal occluder and a 14 F sheath dilator to make a 4.5-5 mm opening. Measured immediately after the procedure and during cardiac catheterization one month later, average aortic pressure was 75 → 75 mmHg, average pulmonary artery pressure: 66 → 30 mmHg, Qp/Qs 1.5 → 1.4, PVR: 4.4 → 2.9 Wood/U/m2 and PVR/SVR: 0.4 → 0.2. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination performed 24 hours after the procedure showed a max 35-40 mmHg gradient between the left and right ventricles through the fenestration. After the procedure, we observed sporadic early ventricular systoles and a nodal rhythm disorder that started after approximately 12 hours and spontaneously reverted to normal 9 days later. CONCLUSION: In patients with large ventricular septal defects, large atrial septal occluders may be used. In cases with risk of pulmonary vascular disease, a safer option would be to close the defect using a manually fenestrated device.

Cardi-O-Fix duct occluder versus Amplatzer duct occluder for closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate the safety, efficacy, and follow-up results of percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure using the novel Cardi-O-Fix duct occluder (CDO), a device similar to but less expensive than the Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO). We also aimed to compare these two devices in terms of results. METHODS: Between March 2005 and May 2012, 167 patients diagnosed with moderate-to-large PDA underwent transcatheter closure. ADO was used in 56 (33.5%) patients with a mean age of 8.1 ± 11.9 years (3.6 months-56 years), whereas CDO was used in 111 (66.5%) patients with a mean age of 12.6 ± 14.6 years (4.8 months-63 years). RESULTS: The narrowest PDA diameter, the used device diameter, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and residual shunt rates were similar between the two groups. Procedural success rate was 100% in both groups. Although the residual shunt rate was higher in the CDO group immediately after the procedure, the difference was not statistically significant (12.6 vs. 8.9%; P = 0.3). There was no statistically significant difference between groups at discharge and during follow-up. No deaths occurred in any of the groups, and there were no differences in complication rates during the short- and mid-term follow-up periods (CDO 7/111 vs. ADO 5/56; P = 0.5 π). CONCLUSION: The CDO can be used for PDA closure because of its safety, effectiveness, and simplicity in use. It is available in bigger sizes and can be used in patients with large defects. According to our short- and mid-term findings, the results it yields are similar to those of the ADO; thus, it may be the preferred choice owing to its low cost and large size variability.

Results for surgical closure of isolated ventricular septal defects in patients under one year of age.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the outcomes of patients undergoing surgical repair of isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD) in the first year of life with particular attention to age and severity of pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS: Between July 1, 2002 and May 31, 2012, 282 patients aged less than one year underwent isolated VSD closure at a median age of five months (range, 21 days to 1 year) and a median weight of 5.3 kg (range, 2.9 to 12.5 kg). Patients were divided into three groups according to the age at surgery (0-3, 3-6, and 6-12 months), and groups were compared in regard to severity of PH associated with morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Four (1.4%) early and four (1.4%) late deaths occurred postoperatively. All mortalities were patients with severe PH, aged between 3 and 12 months. Although hemodynamic studies revealed a higher incidence of persistent postoperative PH in patients above three months of age, there was no statistically significant difference in morbidity associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, and long intensive care unit and hospital stays between age-related groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, the incidence of mortality was higher in patients over three months of age undergoing repair of isolated VSD; the data suggest that the mortality may be decreased in patients with severe PH who were operated on earlier in life. We conclude that in infants with severe PH, early surgical repair (less than three months) of isolated VSDs is strongly advised to achieve more favorable results.

Long-term follow-up results of lung perfusion studies after transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus.

OBJECTIVE: This study presents the long-term follow-up of patients who developed left lung perfusion (LLP) abnormalities following patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure with various device types. DESIGN: The study includes 23 adult and pediatric patients who had undergone transcatheter PDA closure and were shown to have decreased LLP (<40%) by the first scintigraphy performed within the average follow-up period of 14.0 ± 8.12 months (2.0-30 months). For PDA closure, the Amplatzer duct occluder was used in 12 patients, and coils were used in 11. Within the average period of 58.91 ± 12.93 months (37-85 months) after transcatheter PDA closure, a second lung perfusion scintigraphy was performed. RESULTS: In 13 out of 23 patients (56.5%), LLP improved by the time of the second scintigraphy. Improved and unimproved patients did not differ with regard to age, weight, body surface area, PDA diameter, ampulla diameter, and PDA length at the time of PDA closure and the second scintigraphy. There was no significant difference with regard to the percent of improved patients between the different device types (P =.88). The left pulmonary artery indexes were also insignificantly different (P =.446). Patients with persistent LLP abnormality had significantly higher average Doppler velocity index [(LPA blood flow velocity--RPA blood flow velocity) / MPA blood flow velocity] × 100 (P =.007) and PDA diameter/length. If Doppler velocity index ≥50% is taken as the cutoff value, it is possible to predict persisting LLP abnormality with 80% sensitivity and 76% specificity. Left lung perfusion abnormality was found to persist in patients with PDA diameter/length ≥0.5 with 80% sensitivity and 92.3% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The LLP abnormalities seen after PDA closure with various devices eventually improve to normal in the majority of patients during long-term follow-up. Patients whose PDA length is shorter than its diameter are at risk of developing LLP abnormalities that persist long-term.

A comparative study of Cardi-O-Fix septal occluder versus Amplatzer septal occluder in percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defects.

AIM: We sought to investigate the safety and efficacy of Cardio-O-Fix septal occluder (CSO) in percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) as compared to the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO). METHODS: A consecutive of 351 patients received transcatheter ASD closure with CSO or ASO from July 2004 to October 2010 were studied. The ASDs were divided into simple- (isolated defects <26 mm) or complex-types (isolated defect ≥26 mm, double or multifenestrated defects). The procedures were guided by fluoroscopy and transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-ups were arranged before discharge, at 1 month and then every 6-month after implantation. RESULTS: During the study period, 185 (125 males, aged 18.5 ± 15.6 years) and 166 (103 males, aged 21.0 ± 15.7 years) patients attempted CSO and ASO implants, respectively. The CSO group had similar ASD and device sizes, prevalence of complex lesions (17 vs. 16%, P = 0.796), procedural times and success rates (97% vs. 96%, P = 0.635) as compared to the ASO group. Acute residual shunts were less prevalent in CSO than ASO group and most shunts closed spontaneously at 6-month follow-ups. The average equipment cost per patient was lower in CSO group (US$ 4,100 vs. US$ 5,900, P < 0.001). The prevalence of device embolization and atrial arrhythmia (all <2%) were similar in both patient groups. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter ASD occlusion with CSO is safe and effective and it appeared to be an attractive alternative to ASO in closing simple-type ASD because of its relatively low cost.

Transthoracic echocardiographic guidance during transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in children and adults.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Since 2004, ASD closure was performed successfully in total 337 patients. Transthoracic echocardiography guidance was used in 206 patients (61.1%) (group 1). Closure was guided by transesophageal echocardiography under general anesthesia in patients with poor transthoracic acoustic windows, defects with aneurysmatic septum and/or multiple defects in 131 patients (38.9%) (group 2). The median age (9 vs. 16 years, P < 0.001), mean defect diameter (14.9 ± 4 vs. 17.2 ± 5 mm, P < 0.001), ratio of complex atrial septal defect (14 vs. 34%, P = 0.01), the median balloon stretch dimensions (21 vs. 18.7 mm, P = 0.003) and the median device diameters (22 vs. 19 mm, P < 0.001) were significantly greater in group 2 compared to group 1. Both the median procedure time and the median fluoroscopy time was significantly shorter in group 1 (60 vs. 75; and 13 vs. 16.5 min; P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The incidence of residual shunt did not differ significantly in two groups during follow up. Transthoracic echocardiography guidance during transcatheter ASD closure is safe and effective in children and in many adults. Even complex ASDs could be closed with TTE in patients with good acoustic windows. Performing the procedure under TTE guidance significantly reduces procedure time and also provides increased patient's comfort.