Percutaneous closure of ventricular septal defects in childhood

European Journal of …, 1997

Objectives: Surgical closure of some muscular ventricular septal defects has been proven to be difficult. In order to simplify the surgical technique we have used intraoperatively Rashkind double umbrella devices to occlude muscular ventricular septal defects. Methods: On the basis of haemodynamic and echocardiographyc study five children aged 4, 6, 7, 14 and 41 months were considered suitable candidates for intraoperative closure of muscular ventricular septal defects (midmuscular in three cases, apical in two) by Rashkind devices. Three of them had previously undergone pulmonary artery banding at 10, 11 and 41 days, respectively. During hypothermic cardiopulmonary by pass a delivery system was introduced across the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle and then passed through the ventricular septal defect; the distal umbrella of a 17 mm device was opened in the left ventricular cavity; a traction was applied to the introducer and the proximal umbrella was opened on the right side straddling the interventricular septum; the device was then secured on the right side by few stitches. In one case because of the wide diameter of the ventricular septal defect two umbrellas were used. The surgical procedure was completed with debanding and/or closure of other defects close to the aortic or tricuspid valve. Results: Immediate results, tested by epicardial or transesofageal echo, showed a minimal residual shunt in 4 patients and a moderate shunt in one. No early deaths occurred. A complete atrioventricular block developed in 1 patient who had an additional perimembranous defect closed with a prosthetic patch: a permanent pace maker was inserted 3 months after the operation. There was a late death for untractable right ventricular failure in 1 patient who had a large residual shunt erroneously considered moderate. In this patient, the size of the defect was underestimated both preoperatively then intraoperatively. The four survivors are doing well with no signs of hemodynamically significant residual shunts. Conclusions: The use of Rashkind umbrella devices for closing intraoperatively muscular defects can be helpful to standard surgical techniques when technical problems make patch closure difficult. Its use avoid the need of left ventriculotomy. Careful definition of the size of the defect is mandatory to select suitable candidates. 0 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 2010

Background. Isolated hemodynamically significant ventricular septal defects (VSD) were previously treated surgically. Since the introduction of percutaneous (PC) devices, the management of isolated VSD has evolved. In our center, Amplatzer devices have been implanted for selected isolated perimembranous VSD since 2002.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004

We sought to report the results of a U.S. registry of device closure of congenital muscular ventricular septal defects (VSDs) using the new Amplatzer mVSD occluder (AGA Medical Corp., Golden Valley, Minnesota). BACKGROUND Muscular VSDs pose a significant surgical challenge with increased morbidity and mortality.

Pediatric Cardiology, 2005

Hybrid procedures are becoming increasingly important, especially in the management of congenital heart lesions for which there are no ideal surgical or interventional options. This report describes a multicenter experience with perventricular muscular venticular septal defect (VSD) device closure.Three groups of patients (n = 12) were identified: infants with isolated muscular VSDs (n = 2), neonates with aortic coarctation and muscular VSDs (n = 3) or patients with muscular VSDs and other complex cardiac lesions (n = 2), and patients with muscular VSDs and pulmonary artery bands (n = 5). Via a sternotomy or a subxyphoid approach, the right ventricle (RV) free wall was punctured under transesophageal echocardiography guidance. A guidewire was introduced across the largest defect. A short delivery sheath was positioned in the left ventricle cavity. An Amplatzer muscular VSD occluding device was deployed across the VSD. Cardiopulmonary bypass was needed only for repair of concomitant lesions, such as double-outlet right ventricle, aortic coarctation, or pulmonary artery band removal. No complications were encountered using this technique. Discharge echocardiograms showed either mild or no significant shunting across the ventricular septum. At a median follow-up of 12 months, all patients were asymptomatic and 2 patients had mild residual ventricular level shunts. Perventricular closure of muscular VSDs is safe and effective for a variety of patients with muscular VSDs.

Acc Current Journal Review, 2004

We sought to report the results of a U.S. registry of device closure of congenital muscular ventricular septal defects (VSDs) using the new Amplatzer mVSD occluder (AGA Medical Corp., Golden Valley, Minnesota).Muscular VSDs pose a significant surgical challenge with increased morbidity and mortality.Data were prospectively collected from 83 procedures involving 75 patients who underwent an attempt of percutaneous (70 [93.3%] of 75) and/or perventricular (surgical) (6 [8.0%] of 75) device closure of hemodynamically significant muscular VSDs. The patients' median age was 1.4 years (range 0.1 to 54.1 years). Outcome parameters were procedural success, evidence of residual shunts on echocardiography, and occurrence of procedure-related complications. The median follow-up was 211 days (range 1 to 859 days).The median size of the primary VSD was 7 mm (range 3 to 16 mm) and in 34 of 78 (43.6%) procedures, patients had multiple VSDs (range 2 to 7). The device was implanted successfully in 72 of 83 (86.7%) procedures. In 17 of 83 (20.5%) procedures, multiple devices were implanted (range 2 to 3). Procedure-related major complications occurred in 8 of 75 (10.7%) patients. Device embolization occurred in two patients and cardiac perforation in one patient. There were two (2.7%) procedure-related deaths. The 24-h postprocedural complete closure rate was 47.2% (34 of 72 patients), increasing to 69.6% (32 of 46 patients) at 6 months and 92.3% (24 of 26 patients) at 12 months. Six patients underwent successful closure using the perventricular surgical (beating heart) approach, with complete closure at day 1 in three patients and trivial/small residual shunts in the remainder of the patients.The Amplatzer mVSD device (AGA Medical Corp.) offers excellent closure rates and low mortality when used to close congenital muscular VSDs. The device appears to be safe and effective.

Pediatric Cardiology, 2006

This study presents technique and initial experience of retrograde deployment of the Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect occluder (AmVSDo) for closure of muscular ventricular septal defects (VSDs). The conventional technique for closing muscular VSDs involves the creation of an arteriovenous guidewire circuit and use of a transvenous approach for device deployment. Seven patients aged 2.2-15 years underwent transcatheter closure of a muscular VSD using the retrograde approach without making the arteriovenous wire circuit. Mean fluoroscopy and procedural times were compared to those previously reported in publications describing the use of the antegrade approach. Unpaired Student's t-test was used to compare the two parameters in two groups. Our technique was successful in all patients reported. The mean fluoroscopy time in the retrograde versus the antegrade group was 33.8 ± 20.9 and 41.9 ± 6.2 minutes, respectively (not significant), and the mean procedural time in the two groups was 91.1 ± 22.1 and 114 ± 33.9 minutes respectively (p = 0.025). No complications were noted.We suggest that some muscular VSDs can be safely closed retrogradely without the use of an arteriovenous loop, thus reducing the radiation exposure and also the cost of the procedure. Further studies are needed to confirm this initial experience.

Congenital Heart Disease, 2007

Ventricular septal defect is the most common congenital heart malformation. Surgical closure, when indicated, has been practiced for over 50 years with good results; however, surgical closure is still associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Over the past decade, several occluding devices have been developed that made catheter device closure an attractive alternative to surgery with widely satisfactory results. In this article, a comprehensive review of percutaneous and perventricular (hybrid) device closure of each type of ventricular septal defect is presented.

The American Journal of Cardiology, 2005

This study reports on experience with transcatheter closure of congenital ventricular septal defects (VSDs) with Amplatzer septal occluders. From January 2000 to April 2005, transcatheter Amplatzer device implantation was attempted in 122 patients with congenital VSD (30 with muscular, 87 with perimembranous, and 5 with residual postsurgical repair of conotruncal malformations). Patient mean age was 15 years (range, 6 months to 64 years), and mean weight was 35 kg (range, 5.8 to 102 kg). The VSD mean size was 7 mm (range, 4 to 16 mm), mean Qp/Qs was 2.1 (range, 1.3 to 4), and mean fluoroscopy time was 32 minutes (range, 5 to 129 minutes). All procedures were performed with the patient under general anesthesia and guided by fluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography. The device size chosen was usually 1- to 2-mm larger than the maximum defect size as assessed by either the echocardiographic or angiographic views that were judged most reliable. Amplatzer muscular devices were placed in 47 patients, and the membranous devices were placed in 72 patients. The procedure was not performed in 3 patients with perimembranous VSD because of the impossibility of achieving an adequate long sheath position in 1 patient, onset of complete atrioventricular (AV) block during catheter manipulation in 1 patient, and the presence of aortic valve prolapse preventing a safe device placement in 1 patient. Satisfactory device implantation was achieved in 119 of 122 patients (97.5%): a tiny smoke-like residual flow through the device was often seen immediately after the procedure (50%); residual shunting was detectable in 19% after 24 hours and in only 4% at 6 months. The following additional catheter interventions were performed simultaneously: balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in 3 patients, device closure of atrial septal defects in 2 patients, coil occlusion of the arterial duct in 1 patient, stenting coarctation in 1 patient, and stenting of the right pulmonary artery in 1 patient. Minimal aortic regurgitation developed in 3 patients, and minimal tricuspid regurgitation in 3 patients; no patient required additional treatment. Device embolization occurred in 3 patients (1 patient with muscular VSD, 2 with perimembranous VSD); catheter retrieval and implantation of a second device was successfully performed in all patients. Transient left bundle branch block occurred in 2 patients, and transient first-degree AV block in 1 patient. Among the perimembranous VSD cases, complete AV block occurred acutely (within 48 hours) in 3 patients, requiring a pacemaker in 1 patient; complete heart block occurred in the other 2 patients after 5 and 12 months, requiring pacemakers. There was no mortality. Transcatheter closure of muscular and perimembranous VSDs offers encouraging results: 96% complete closure at midterm follow-up. Complications are limited; the most relevant appears to be device-related complete heart block in perimembranous VSD. Greater experience and long-term follow-up are required to assess the safety and effectiveness of this procedure as an alternative to conventional surgery.

Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, 2008

Objectives: To report our experience with the use of the Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) occluder, using direct right ventricle free wall puncture for primary closure of muscular VSDs in infants. Background: Young infants with heart failure due to large or multiple muscular VSDs often require intervention at a stage when percutaneous device closure is impractical due to delivery system limitations. There are considerable benefits to avoiding bypass in these infants. Methods: Patients with suitable muscular VSDs, considered too small for transvenous closure, underwent perventricular muscular VSD closure under transesophageal echo (TEE) guidance. Results: Eight infants underwent the procedure. The median age was 14 weeks (2-41) with median weight of 4 kg (3-6.6). Four patients had additional VSDs and one patient had previous repair of coarctation. One patient had dextrocardia and severe left ventricular impairment due to an associated cardiomyopathy. The median VSD size was 8 mm (range, 4-10 mm). A single device (6-12 mm) was deployed in each patient, the size chosen being 1-2 mm larger than the TEE measurement. Two patients had subsequent pulmonary artery banding, with absorbable bands, because of moderate residual shunting through additional VSDs. The latest echo study at a median of 7.2 weeks (0.5-66) post device implantation revealed no patients with a hemodynamically significant shunt. Conclusion: Perventricular muscular VSD closure can be safely and effectively undertaken in small infants with suitable muscular defects, and this strategy can avoid the need for bypass. ' 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Circulation, 2004

Background-Our purpose was to describe a 13-year experience with patients undergoing transcatheter device closure of unrepaired congenital or postoperative residual ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Methods and Results-Since 1989, 170 patients (median age, 3.9 years) have undergone catheterization for closure of 1 or more congenital (nϭ92) or postoperative (nϭ78) residual VSDs using successive generations of STARFlex-type devices. Outcomes included echocardiographic assessment of residual flow and device position, assessment of VSD shunt/severity, and adverse events. Among 168 patients in whom device implantation was performed, between 1 and 7 devices were placed per patient (median, 1), with multiple devices placed in 40%. There was a significant decrease in left-to-right shunting after device implantation (PϽ0.001) and significant improvement in VSD size/severity, and device position proved stable. Of 332 adverse events, 39 were related to the device and 261 were related to the catheterization; all but 5 occurred in the periprocedural period. At a median follow-up of 24 months (0 to 154 months), 14 patients had died and 18 had device(s) explanted. Conclusions-Congenital and postoperative VSD closure using STARFlex-type devices resulted in stable improvement in clinical status and decreased interventricular shunting. Although periprocedural events occurred frequently, late events caused by the device were rare. Transcatheter device closure is an effective management option for patients with complex muscular VSDs that are difficult to approach surgically and for postoperative residual VSDs. (Circulation. 2004;110:501-507.)