Transcatheter closure of an anomalous venous connection by a novel method

Unroofed Coronary Sinus Presenting as Cerebral Abscess: A Case Report

A sixty eight year-old woman with a long-standing history of hypertension, dizziness and a history of congenital heart disease presented with speech difficulties and disorientation. She was diagnosed with a brain abscess, confirmed by a stereotactic biopsy. Transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation revealed a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) with an unroofed coronary sinus (URCS) along with a small secundum atrial septal defect. Her heart catheterization showed a partially unroofed coronary sinus along with a bidirectional shunt. She was referred for surgical closure of her unroofed coronary sinus and the secundum atrial septal defect. Her brain abscess responded well to antibiotic treatment. While waiting for open-heart surgery, she suffered from an acute myocardial infarction and underwent emergent percutaneous coronary intervention to the right coronary artery. Subsequently, she underwent elective surgical repair of the unroofed coronary sinus, along with closure of the atrial septal defect. When she was seen in follow-up she reported a complete resolution of her dizziness and felt more energetic. Unroofed coronary sinus syndrome (URCS) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which there is a communication between the coronary sinus and the left atrium. While non-invasive imaging with echocardiography, MRI or CT is helpful in making the diagnosis, cardiac catheterization remains integral in the evaluation and management planning. Management is guided by the presence of clinical symptoms with consideration of repair when patients become symptomatic. Prognosis after surgery is excellent, recently transcatheter based treatment therapies are becoming more frequent. We present a rare case of URCS with PLSVC presenting as a cerebral abscess in late adulthood. She had bidirectional shunting manifesting as a cerebral abscess. She responded well to the corrective surgery and was doing well on follow up.

Techniques and applications of transcatheter embolization procedures in pediatric cardiology

Transcatheter embolization of congenital or acquired superfluous vascular structure has become routine procedures performed by interventional pediatric cardiologists. Embolization procedure is often part of a collaborative effort with cardiac surgeons to palliate complex congenital heart defect, such as in embolizing aortopulmonary collateral arteries in patient with single ventricle physiology. In other cases, the procedure is the definitive treatment as in embolizing coronary artery fistula. Pediatric cardiologists performing embolization procedures should be familiar with available technologies as well as understand the underlying cardiac anatomy and pathophysiology. This article provides a comprehensive review of presently available embolization agents and technologies. Some of the technologies are used only by interventional radiologists but may be useful to pediatric cardiologists. Specific clinical applications in pediatric cardiology are also discussed with summary of current literature. With continue advancement in transcatheter technology and operator expertise, all unwanted vascular communication should be amenable to transcatheter embolization.

Transcatheter closure of large persistent left superior vena cava causing cyanosis in two patients post-Fontan operation utilizing the Gianturco Grifka vascular occlusion device

We report the successful transcatheter closure of a large persistent left superior vena cava draining into the pulmonary venous circulation causing cyanosis in two patients who had previously undergone the Fontan operation utilizing the Gianturco Grifka vascular occlusion device. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;53:398-404.

Lessons learned from a 6-year clinical experience with superior vena cava Greenfield filters

PURPOSE

Therapy to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) resulting from upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) remains controversial despite an increasing incidence of DVT of upper extremity origin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of 72 superior vena cava Greenfield filters (SVC-GFs) placed in patients at risk for PE arising from UEDVT.

METHODS

During the past 78 months, we placed SVC-GFs in 72 patients with UEDVT in whom anticoagulation was either deemed contraindicated (n = 67) or proved ineffective in preventing recurrent PE (n = 4) or extension of the thrombus (n = 1). There were 25 male (35%) and 47 (65%) female patients whose ages ranged from 25 to 99 years (mean, 74 years). Follow-up ranged from 10 days to 78 months (mean, 7.8 months). Sequential chest radiographs revealed no filter migration or displacement in 26 patients.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients died in the hospital of causes unrelated to the SVC filter or recurrent thromboembolism (mean time to death, 20 days). Follow-up of the surviving 38 patients ranged from 1 month to 78 months (mean, 22 months); none of these patients were seen with any evidence of PE. One SVC-GF was incorrectly discharged into the innominate vein and left in place. This vein remains patent 2 months after insertion without evidence of filter migration.

CONCLUSIONS

We think that insertion of SVC-GFs is a safe, efficacious, and feasible therapy and may prevent recurrent thromboembolism in patients with UEDVT who are resistant to anticoagulation or have contraindications to anticoagulation.

Use of a bow tie stent occluder for transcatheter closure of a large anomalous vein

Percutaneous occlusion of superfluous vascular connections, which are short and have large caliber, is technically difficult. We report use of a composite device (consisting of a Palmaz stent, a Gianturco Grifka vascular occlusion device, and multiple platinum detachable embolization coils) to close a large left superior vena cava draining to the pulmonary venous atrium.

Left superior vena cava connection to unroofed coronary sinus associated with positional cyanosis: successful transcatheter treatment using Gianturco-Grifka vascular occlusion device

A persistent left superior vena cava connection to an unroofed coronary sinus is a rare cardiac anomaly that is associated with a variable degree of cyanosis. We report an infant with this condition and the unusual feature of cyanosis dependent on head position. When the patient's head was rotated to the left, he developed severe stenosis of the left internal jugular vein, enlarged cervical collateral veins that connected to the right superior vena cava and had an oxygen saturation 95%. When the patient's head was rotated to the right, the left internal jugular vein was widely patent and systemic oxygen saturation decreased to 87%. There was no right ventricular volume overload. Temporary occlusion of the left superior vena cava documented tolerable proximal venous pressure. Cyanosis was relieved by transcatheter closure of the left superior vena cava with a Gianturco-Grifka vascular occlusion device. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:369-373, 1999.