How to Size ASDs for Percutaneous Closure

Comparison of Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Costs Between Transesophageal Echocardiography-Guided and X-ray-Guided Percutaneous Atrial Septal Defect Closure in Children

This study aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes and costs between using either transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or X-ray fluoroscopy for Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in children. An analysis was conducted on clinical data from children undergoing TEE-guided (n = 168) and X-ray-guided (n = 139) percutaneous ASD closure. Demographic characteristics, technical indices, acute complications, follow-up outcomes, and costs were compared between the groups. The results are that TEE-guided closure demonstrated shorter surgical times (20.3 ± 7.6 min vs. 32.8 ± 7.9 min, P < 0.001) and lower procedural costs ($3093.3 ± 451.5 vs. $3589.1 ± 219.4, P < 0.001) compared to X-ray guidance. Initial successful closure rates were similar between the groups (TEE: 98.2%, XR: 97.1%, P = 0.691). TEE guidance also resulted in fewer acute complications and reduced radiation exposure. TEE-guided percutaneous ASD closure offers advantages in terms of shorter surgical times, lower procedural costs, and reduced radiation exposure compared to X-ray guidance. These findings support the preference for TEE guidance in pediatric ASD closure procedures, with potential implications for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography measurements of ASD sizing parameters in comparison to balloon sizing method in percutaneous ASD closure

BACKGROUND

Balloon sizing (BS) has been used for device size selection in percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Due to its limitations, alternative imaging techniques like three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) are valuable for guiding ASD device size selection during ASD closure procedures. The purpose of this study was to compare ASD sizing using measurements obtained from 3D-TEE to those utilizing the standard balloon sizing method.

METHODS

We identified 53 patients with single secundum type ASD without PFO who underwent percutaneous closure at the Tehran Heart Center between 2019 and 2022. Balloon sizing was performed in all patients with the stop-flow technique, and the choice of device size was determined based on the sizing derived from BS. 3D-TEE imaging was performed before the intervention, and the ASD shape and quality of ASD rims were assessed.

RESULTS

Among the 53 patients who underwent single ASD device closure, multiple 3D TEE measurements significantly correlated with balloon sizing results. This included defect area, perimeter, and diameter obtained from 3D-TEE images multi-planar reconstruction. ASD perimeter detected by 3D TEE had the best correlation with BS results. When divided by the shape of ASD, there was no significant difference between our 3D-images data and BS in round or oval-shaped ASDs.

CONCLUSION

The 3D-TEE study is reliable for assessing ASD configurational characteristics in percutaneous device closure candidates. 3D-TEE has the potential to accurately determine the appropriate device size and reduce complications, costs, and procedural duration. Further research is needed to validate these findings and establish the role of 3D-TEE measurements in guiding the best treatment decisions for ASD closure.

Systematic review of multiple versus single device closure of Secundum atrial septal defects in adults

INTRODUCTION

Multiple device closure (MDC) strategy has been used in treating of complex Atrial septal defects (ASDs) in adults. The safety profile of MDC compared to conventional single device closure (SDC) is unknown in this population. This report represents the first review examining the outcomes of single versus multiple device ASD closure in adults with ostium secundum defects.

METHODS

Literature databases and manual search from their inception until June 30th, 2017 followed the Preferred Reporting Items of Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline. Main outcomes are 1) overall complication incidence, 2) arrhythmia incidence, 3) residual shunt rate. Each outcome profile was pooled by MDC and SDC, respectively and chi-square analysis was applied to examine statistical significance between MDC and SDC strategies (two-sided and p < .050).

RESULTS

A total of 1806 + studies were initially screened, and 20 studies were finally selected (MDC group, 147 patients; SDC group, 1706 patients). There was no difference in overall complication incidence (χ2 = 1.269; p = .259) and arrhythmia incidence (χ2 = 0.325; p = .568) between MDC and SDC. There was no difference in residual shunt rate between the SDC (4.10 %; 70/1706) and MDC groups (6.80 %; 10/147; χ2 = 2.387; p = .122).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcomes of percutaneous multiple ASD closure (MDC) seem to be safe and effective as compared to conventional single ASD (SDC) closure in terms of device - related complications and technical success of the procedure. Prospective registry data and randomized trials are needed to determine the long-term outcomes of percutaneous ASD closure using MDC.

German Registry for Cardiac Operations and Interventions in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: Report 2021 and 9 Years' Longitudinal Observations on Fallot and Coarctation Patients

BACKGROUND

 The annual report of the German Quality Assurance of Congenital Heart Disease displays a broad overview on outcome of interventional and surgical treatment with respect to patient's age and risk categorization. Particular features of the German all-comers registry are the inclusion of all interventional and surgical procedures, the possibility to record repeated treatments with distinct individual patient assignment, and to record various procedures within one case.

METHODS

 International Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code terminology for diagnoses and procedures as well as classified adverse events, also recording of demographic data, key procedural performance indicators, and key quality indicators (mortality, adverse event rates). Surgical and interventional adverse events were classified according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and to the Congenital Heart Disease Adjustment for Risk Method of the congenital cardiac catheterization project on outcomes. Annual analysis of all cases and additional long-term evaluation of patients after repair of Fallot and primary treatment of native coarctation of the aorta were performed.

RESULTS

 In 2020, 5,532 patients with 6,051 cases (hospital stays) with 6,986 procedures were treated in 23 German institutions. Cases dispense on 618 newborns (10.2%), 1,532 infants (25.3%), 3,077 children (50.9%), and 824 adults (13.6%). Freedom from adverse events was 94.5% in 2,795 interventional cases, 67.9% in 2,887 surgical cases, and 42.9% in 336 cases with multiple procedures (without considering the 33 hybrid interventions). In-hospital mortality was 0.5% in interventional, 1.6% in surgical, and 5.7% in cases with multiple treatments. Long-term observation of 1,632 patient after repair of Fallot depicts the impact of previous palliation in 18% of the patients on the rate of 20.8% redo cases. Differentiated analysis of 1,864 patients with native coarctation picture clear differences of patient, age, and procedure selection and outcome. The overall redo procedure rate in this patient population is high with 30.8%.

CONCLUSION

 Improvement in quality of care requires detailed analysis of risks, performance indicators, and outcomes. The high necessity of redo procedures in patients with complex congenital heart disease underlines the imperative need of long-term observations.

Assessment of atrial septal defect using 2D or real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography and outcomes following transcatheter closure

Background

The assessment of interatrial septum (IAS) requires a standardized, systematic approach, including two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D TTE), 2D transesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE), and three-dimensional (3D) TEE. Although 2D TEE has been widely used for the preoperative assessment of atrial septal defect (ASD), its ability to provide reliable information is often limited due to the structural characteristics of IAS. The introduction of 3D TEE provides a unique "en face" view of IAS, which allows the visualization and accurate measurements of diameters, area, and rims of ASD. Hence, appropriate ASD imaging information is particularly important in successful transcatheter closure.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 2D TTE/TEE, and 3D TEE were performed before ASD closure, with 2D minimal and maximal diameters, areas, and residual rims being recorded. Adequate 3D TEE imaging data sets were collected and then analyzed. ASD related parameters were compared using different echocardiography. Patients who underwent ASD closure completed a clinical follow-up.

Results

The mean defect maximal diameter and aperture area by 3D TEE was significantly larger than that of the corresponding 2D TEE (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the minimal and maximal diameter or area by TEE for circular-shaped ASDs. For oval ASDs, mean minimal diameter on 2D TEE was larger than that on 3D TEE. The mean maximal diameter measured using 2D TEE was smaller than the 3D TEE measurement (16.0±7.1 vs. 19.8±8.6; P<0.05). For complex-shaped defects, there were statistical differences in minimal and maximal diameter between TEEs. Furthermore, 2D and 3D TEE had a longer superior vena cava (SVC) residual rim than did 2D TTE (P<0.05). The 3D TEE residual rims of the inferior vena cava (IVC) was significantly larger than the corresponding 2D TEE. There was a very strong correlation between the residual rim measurements using 3D and 2D TEE. However, the limits of agreement between 2D and real-time 3D TEE measurements were more apparent in the IVC rim group than in the other groups.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the value of 3D TEE in assessing ASD shape and size reported by previous studies, and is also the first to accurately and systematically characterize ASD residual rim in complex ASDs.

Appropriate device selection for transcatheter atrial septal defect closure using three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography

Detail morphological evaluation for ASD is essential to achieve successful transcatheter closure. Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) is emerging, but few studies have comprehensively verified the usefulness of 3D-TEE. We divided 329 patients who underwent transcatheter ASD closure at our university hospital into 157 in the Conventional group evaluated with 2-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography and balloon sizing (BS), and 172 in the 3D-TEE group evaluated with 3D-TEE additionally. We assessed usefulness of 3D-TEE and consider appropriate device selection procedure. Overall, the percentage with re-sizing of device tended to be lower in the 3D-TEE group than in the Conventional group (10.1% vs 6.0%, p = 0.187). Among preprocedural modalities, the device size was mainly decided based on the BS diameter. A logistic regression analysis demonstrated that large atrial septum aneurysms (ASA) were associated with a ≥ 2 mm discrepancy of the BS diameter from the preprocedural 3D-TEE diameter (p < 0.05). Compared to the Amplatzer Septal Occluder, the differences in device size and the preprocedural ASD measurement were greater when using the Occlutech Figulla Flex II Occluder (FFII). Particularly, among the patients implanted with FFIIs, the discrepancies of the device size from the 3D-TEE measurement were greater in patients with large ASA than those with small ASA. Preprocedural 3D-TEE is useful to select the appropriate device size. Particularly, it is necessary to select a much larger device than that derived from the preprocedural 3D-TEE measurement when using FFII in patients with a septal aneurysm.

Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defects with Cardiac Computed Tomography Sizing: Eight-Year Single-Center Practice

INTRODUCTION

An accurate evaluation of atrial septal defect (ASD) is important for the success of interventional treatment. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) has unique advantages for ASD assessment, although transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) remains the accepted method.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of transcatheter closure of ASD with cardiac CT sizing but without TEE measurement.

METHODS

Among 134 patients undergoing transcatheter closure, 13 underwent TEE in addition to a cardiac CT examination, and 121 underwent only cardiac CT. Propensity score matching was used to analyze the outcomes of the groups treated with (group 1) or without (group 2) TEE examinations. The success rate and complications among the 121 ASD patients with only cardiac CT sizing were recorded and analyzed. The maximal diameters of the defects remeasured on CT images were compared to the echocardiography results and correlated with the device size by Student t test and Pearson's linear regression analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between groups 1 and 2 in the success rate, complications, or ratio of the device size to the maximum diameter of the defect measured by cardiac CT. In group 1, the maximum diameters of the ASD derived from cardiac CT and TEE were comparable (22.08 ± 9.68 vs. 21.50 ± 10.24; p = 0.351). The success rate among the 121 patients who underwent transcatheter closure with only cardiac CT sizing was 99.2%; however, within 1 month of follow-up, 2 patients had arrhythmia, 1 patient had residual shunting, 1 patient had an infection, and 1 patient had a hematoma, but all patients recovered within a short time.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac CT seems to be comparable to TEE in the assessment of ASD, and transcatheter closure of ASD based on CT sizing alone is safe and feasible.

Transcatheter closure of a residual shunt with posteroinferior deficient rim after surgical closure of an ASD: a case report

BACKGROUND

There are few reports in the literature of device closure of residual shunts following initial surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD). This case study reports one such case. We describe here a case of secundum type ASD that was initially closed surgically, followed by device closure of a residual shunt with a posteroinferior deficient rim.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 7-month-old boy was admitted to our hospital for elective surgery to surgically correct a secundum type ASD. Unfortunately, a residual shunt 3.5 mm in diameter appeared before discharge and was enlarged at1-year follow-up. The cause of this residual shunt was dehiscence at the posteroinferior aspect, and the posteroinferior rim was 3.7 mm. After careful discussion and preparation, we proceeded with an interventional procedure. A 16 mm ASD occluder (AGA Medical Corp, Plymouth, Minnesota) was deployed successfully with no residual shunt. In some cases of ASD, interventional therapy is not considered due to the size and position of the defect, but we show here, a successful case of interventional therapy for a residual shunt with a deficient rim.

CONCLUSION

We have presented a case in which a postoperative residual shunt with a deficient rim was successfully closed with interventional therapy.

Iatrogenic atrial septal defect post mitral valve in valve implantation

A 75 year-old female with symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation of a bio-prosthetic valve secondary to valve leaflet perforation due to endocarditis underwent a mitral valve in valve replacement in an existing Hancock 27 mm valve using a trans-femoral/trans-septal approach. The procedure was complicated by an iatrogenic atrial septal defect post trans-septal puncture causing a severe right-to-left shunt due, possibly, to the combination of severe pulmonary hypertension and moderate tricuspid regurgitation the patient had suffered from at base line. Once the sheath was removed an immediate desaturation was observed which required emergent closure with an AMPLATZER ASD Occluder device (St. Jude Medical/Abbott Structural, St. Paul, Minnesota, MN). This stabilized the patient and returned her blood oxygen levels to normal. The case brings forth a rare but important complication that may occur during trans-septal procedures especially when using large sheaths. It emphasizes the importance of proper echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluation prior to such procedures in order to be prepared for such complications.