Cardiac tamponade as a rare complication after giant coronary fistula percutaneous closure

We present the case of an unusual complication after percutaneous closure of a giant coronary artery fis-tula. A 76-year-old man with previous admissions due to right heart failure and previous history of atrial fibrillation under acenocumarol, was admitted to our hospital for new onset of symptoms, characterized by progressive dyspnoea and peripheral edema. Physical examination revealed signs of congestive heart failure and a continuous murmur loudest along the lower sternal border. X-Ray showed cardiomegaly due to right chambers dilatation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed right chambers pressure and volume overload, with right ventricular enlargement and dysfunction, tricuspid annulus dilatation and severe tricuspid regurgitation. Cardiac catheterization showed significant elevation of right atrial pressure, as well as significant step-up of oxygen saturation in this chamber. Coronary angiography revealed the presence of a large fistula between the circumflex coronary artery (CCA) and coronary sinus (CS), with severe dilation of the CCA (maximum diameter20 mm). An Amplatzer? PDA was implanted in a distal elbow of the fistula with initailly good results. Anticoagulant therapy was then reinitiated, and a few days later, the patient developed clinical worsening of heart failure and dyspnoea. Echocardiogram showed significant pericardial effusion. Pleuropericardial window was then made draining a500 cm3 of bloody pericardial effusion. The postoperative outcome was excellent, with symptomatic relief and no signs of heart failure.

Novel way of patent foramen ovale detection and percutaneous closure by intracardiac echocardiography:A case report

BACKGROUND Patent foramen ovale(PFO)is the most common congenital heart disease and is associated with several diseases,including stroke and migraine.PFO diagnosis involves transoesophageal echocardiography,transthoracic echocardiography,and transcranial Doppler.Recent studies have shown that intracardiac echocardiography(ICE)can be used to diagnose and guide percutaneous transcatheter closure.CASE SUMMARY A 70-year-old male presented with paroxysmal dizziness and limb weakness for the past 3 mo.Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a history of stroke,and a bubble test revealed the presence of PFO.The patient was then transferred to our hospital for PFO closure.Under ICE guidance,the separation of the septum primum and septum secundum was unclear;we then used a Swartz catheter to confirm PFO by applying physical pressure on the right part of the atrial septum without using any contrast.The ICE continuously and clearly guided the procedure.CONCLUSION ICE can guide PFO closure in patients with a history of stroke.When PFO is not evident under ICE,a Swartz catheter can be used.

Percutaneous closure of ventricular septal defect associated with anomalous inferior vein cava drainage via transjugular approach

Transcatheter occlusion of ventricular septal defect (VSD) was first reported in 1987.1 Because of short recovery time and little distress, the method has been widely accepted. The most common approach of the procedure is via femoral vein. However, when the inferior vein cava is interrupted or obstructed, it is unfeasible to carry out the procedure via femoral vein. So an alternative approach such as internal jugular vein or subclavian vein needs to be considered.

Evaluation of left atrial remodelling following percutaneous left atrial appendage closure

Atrial fibrillation prevalence is increasing with age, reaching up to 5% of patients older than 65 years, and is associated with 20%-30% of stroke episodes in that population.

Preliminary experience using transthoracic echocardiography guiding percutaneous closure of ruptured right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

Background In the 21st century, minimally invasive treatment is one of the main developmental directions of medical sciences. It is well known that the echocardiography plays an important role during interventional treatments of some structural heart diseases. Because the ruptured right sinus of the Valsalva aneurysm （RRSVA） is a rare disease, there were few reports about percutaneous catheter closure of RRSVA. This study aimed to sum up our experience with transthoracic echocardiography （TTE） during percutaneous catheter closure of RRSVA.Methods Five RRSVA cases were treated with percutaneous catheter closure. The whole procedure was guided and monitored by TTE and fluoroscopy. The maximum diameter of the RRSVA was measured by TTE before and after the catheter passed through the rupture site. A duct occluder 2 mm larger than the maximum diameter was chosen. The closure effects were evaluated with TTE and fluoroscopy immediately after the occluding device was deployed. All patients were followed up by TTE for 8 to 30 months.Results Before the catheter passed through the rupture site the maximum diameter of the RRSVA measured with TTE and aortography were （7.9 ±2.1） mm and （7.8 ± 1.8） mm. After the catheter passed through the rupture site the maximum diameter measured with TTE was （11.2 ± 3.2） mm, which was significantly larger than before the procedure （P 〈0.05）. The percutaneous catheter closure was successful in four cases and failed in one. Compared to the aortography the TTE was better at distinguishing residual shunts from aortic valve regurgitation immediately after the occluding device was deployed. There were no complications during 8 to 30 months of follow-up.Conclusion Transthoracic echocardiography can play an important role during percutaneous catheter closure of RRSVA,especially for estimating the size of the RRSVA after the catheter passes through the rupture site, and differentiating residual shunt from aortic valve regurgitation immediately after the occluding device is deployed

Recurrent Stroke after Percutaneous Placement of Post-Infarct Septal Occluder Device

Surgical intervention for post-infarct ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a challenging procedure due to patients’ complex preoperative conditions. While percutaneous VSD closure can be considered as an alternative to surgical repair, complete closure of the defect remains difficult and is associated with various procedural complications. We report a rare case of a patient with postoperative residual shunts who experienced recurrent stroke episodes, requiring surgical intervention for repair. The patient, a 71-year-old female, developed acute anterior myocardial infarction and post-infarct VSD. Percutaneous closure with a 14-mm Amplatzer VSD occluder device was performed, yet the closure was incomplete. Following discharge, she developed multiple embolic stroke episodes, likely stemming from the residual VSD, which led to the surgical extraction of the device and VSD repair. Fibrous tissue was found to be solely attached to the core and right ventricle side of the device, whilst no fibrous tissue was observed on the side of the left ventricle. The patient has not experienced new neurological symptoms at an 18-month follow-up. Thus, it is paramount to keep in mind that an embolic stroke may occur in the setting of percutaneous post-infarct VSD closure. Surgical repair of VSD with device removal should be considered as a treatment option to such a complex case.

Modification of Serum Galectin-3 and Reversal of Cardiac Remodeling Following Pediatric Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure

Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the effect of percutaneous atrial septal defect(ASD)closure in children using right heart indices and serum galectin-3(Gal-3),as potential biomarkers of right heart remodeling.Methods:This case–control prospective study included 40 children with ASD and 25 control subjects.An echocardiographic evaluation was performed before the procedure,as well as 24 h,1 month,and 6 months after intervention.Serum Gal-3 was measured before,and 1 month after the procedure.Results:Serum Gal-3 concentration,right atrial(RA)dimensions,right ventricular(RV)dimensions,indexed RA area,and right index of myocardial performance(RIMP)were significantly increased in children with ASD compared with control subjects while tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)was significantly decreased.Six months after closure,RA,and RV dimensions significantly decreased and RVfunction improved(RIMP decreased and TAPSE increased).Gal-3 oncentration significantly decreased 1 month after ASD closure,but it did not reach normal range compared with control subjects.A positive correlation between Gal-3 and age at closure,RA area,RV dimensions,and RIMP was observed.A positive correlation was observed between the decrease in Gal-3 concentration and the decrease in RA area and RV dimensions 1 month after ASD closure.A significant negative correlation was observed between TAPSE and Gal-3 concentration before and after intervention.Conclusions:Percutaneous ASD closure can improve right-sided indices and decrease serum Gal-3 concentration.Gal-3 can be used as a sensitive biomarker of right heart remodeling,with a decrease in Gal-3 concentration suggesting reversal of maladaptive remodeling.

Postprocedural Outcomes and Risk Factors for Arrhythmias Following Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect： A Single-center Retrospective Study

Background： Currently, transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect （pmVSD） is a widely accepted therapeutic modality. However, arrhythmias, especially postprocedural heart blocks, are a concern and outcomes are not very clear. This study explored the outcomes and risk factors of arrhythmias associated with transcatheter device closure ofpmVSD. Methods： A total of 395 patients diagnosed with pmVSD who successfully underwent transcatheter intervention between January 2010 and December 2015 in our center were retrospectively reviewed. Electrocardiographic data before and after the procedure were collected and analyzed. We first evaluated the potential risk factors including gender, age, weight, inlet and outlet diameters of defect, subaortic rim length, occluder size, corrected occluder size into body surface area, fluoroscopy time, presence of aneurysm, and deployment position. We compared the potential risk factors between arrhythmia and nonarrhythmia groups using univariate analysis, followed by logistic analysis for independent risk factors. Results： Various arrhythmias were detected in 95 cases （24.1%） following transcatheter closure procedure. Logistic regression analysis revealed that eccentric （odds ratio [OR] 2.9, 95% confidence interval [（CI]： 1.2-7.2） and large occluders （OR 2.0, 95% （.7： 1.6-2.5）, as well as long fluoroscopy time （OR 1.1, 95% CI： 1.1-1.2）, were correlated with postprocedural arrhythmia. During 35.5 months （range： 9-80 months） of follow-up, most of the patients （74 out of 95） reverted to normal heart rhythm. Conclusions： The mid-term outcome of patients with arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of pmVSD was satisfactory as most of the patients recovered normal rhythm. Eccentric, large device and long fluoroscopy time increase the risk of arrhythmias after transcatheter closure of pmVSD.

Transcatheter Closure of Congenital Coronary Artery Fistulas with a Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysm in Children： Experiences from a Single Center

Background： Transcatheter closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas （CCAFs） is an alternative therapy to surgery; however, data regarding transcatheter closure for CCAF with a giant coronary artery aneurysm （CAA） in pediatric patients are still limited due to the rarity of the disease. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure for CCAF with a giant CAA in a pediatric population at a single center. Methods： Medical records of pediatric patients （〈 18 years old） who underwent transcatheter closure of CCAF with a giant CAA between April 2007 and September 2016 at Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute （Guangdong, China） were reviewed. Results： Twelve patients （median age, 6.1 years; range, 1.9-11.0 years） underwent successful transcatheter closure procedures. One patient underwent closure at both the entry and exit points of the CAA, three patients underwent closure at the exit point of the CAA, and eight patients underwent closure at the entry point of the CAA. After a mean follow-up of 7.2 years （range, 0.5-9.8 years）, one patient （with closure at the exit point of the CAA） underwent transcatheter re-intervention because of a significant residual shunt. She eventually underwent a surgical procedure due to aneurysm dilation after the second intervention. One patient experienced thrombus formation within the CAA after the procedure. Among those with closure at the entry point of the CAA, a mild-to-moderate residual shunt was detected in three patients. Conclusions： Transcatheter closure appears to be a safe and effective alternative therapy for CCAF with a giant CAA in the pediatric population. Closure at the entry point of the CAA, and closure at both the entry and exit points when feasible, may reduce the risk of postinterventional complications.

Correction

Transcatheter occlusion of ventricular septal defect (VSD) was first reported in 1987.~1 (Because of)short recovery time and little distress, the method has been widely accepted. The most common approach of the procedure is via femoral vein. However, when the inferior vein cava is interrupted or obstructed, it is unfeasible to carry out the procedure via femoral vein. So an alternative approach such as internal jugular vein or subclavian vein needs to be considered.