Device deformation and left pulmonary artery obstruction after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in preterm infants

Transcatheter closure in preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus: feasibility, results, hemodynamic monitoring and future prospectives

Ductal patency of preterm infants is potentially associated with long term morbidities related to either pulmonary overflow or systemic steal. When an interventional closure is needed, it can be achieved with either surgical ligation or a catheter-based approach.Transcatheter PDA closure is among the safest of interventional cardiac procedures and it is the first choice for ductal closure in adults, children, and infants weighing more than 6 kg. In preterm and very low birth weight infants, it is increasingly becoming a valid and safe alternative to ligation, especially for the high success rate and the minor invasiveness and side effects. Nevertheless, being it performed at increasingly lower weights and gestational ages, hemodynamic complications are possible events to be foreseen.Procedural steps, timing, results, possible complications and available monitoring systems, as well as future outlooks are here discussed.

Late aortic obstruction due to ductal vasoconstriction on pulmonic end after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in an extremely low-birth-weight infant

Device-induced aortic obstruction is a known rare complication following transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in extremely low-birth-weight infants. Various mechanisms have been proposed. We report the first description of late aortic obstruction due to ductal vasoconstriction on pulmonic end causing device to be gradually pushed out of aortic end in a 980-gram premature infant.

3-year follow-up of a prospective, multicenter study of the Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in children ≥ 700 grams

OBJECTIVE

This study describes 3-year follow-up of 200 infants weighing ≥ 700 grams who underwent transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure with the Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder.

STUDY DESIGN

Between June 2017 and February 2019, 200 children were enrolled in this U.S. study (NCT03055858). PDA closure, survival, and device- or procedure-related events were evaluated. A total of 156 of the available 182 patients (86%) completed the study.

RESULTS

The implant success rate was 95.5% (191/200). At 3 years, PDA closure was observed in 100% (33/33) of patients. Survival was >95% with 9 reported deaths. No deaths were adjudicated as device- or procedure-related. Notable events included aortic obstruction (2) requiring stent placement and tricuspid regurgitation (5), for which no interventions were required.

CONCLUSIONS

This follow-up study demonstrates high rates of PDA closure, low serious complication rates, and survival > 95% at 3 years. The Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder is a safe and effective therapy for PDA treatment in premature infants.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov identifier: NCT0305585.

Percutaneous Closure of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Infants ≤2 kg: IMPACT Registry Insights

OBJECTIVES

Percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure is becoming the standard of care for definitive closure in progressively smaller and younger neonates. The objective of this study was to assess safety and feasibility of percutaneous PDA closure in patients ≤2 kg.

METHODS

This was a cohort study using the IMPACT Registry (Improving Pediatric and Adult Congenital Treatments) from the American College of Cardiology Foundation's National Cardiovascular Data Registry. Patients who were ≤2 kg at the time of percutaneous PDA closure were included. The primary outcome was the composite of technical failure and/or major adverse event.

RESULTS

A total of 1587 attempted PDA closures were included, with a 3% incidence of technical failure and 5.5% incidence of the composite outcome. Major adverse events were observed in 3.8% of the patients; the most common events were device embolization requiring retrieval and unplanned cardiac or vascular surgery in 1.3% and 1.3% of cases, respectively. The incidence of the composite outcome was associated with the need for arterial access (P < .001) as well as annual hospital volume of percutaneous PDA closures in infants ≤2 kg (P = .001). The incidence of the composite outcome has decreased overtime, whereas median weight at the time of procedure has also diminished.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous PDA closure appears to be safe and feasible procedures in infants ≤2 kg. The incidence of major adverse events has continued to decline over the years and seems to have a strong correlation with individual center case volumes and expertise.

Utility of Follow-Up Echocardiograms in Uncomplicated PDA Device Closures Performed During Infancy

INTRODUCTION

Guidelines recommend lifelong follow-up with transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) for patients who had a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device closure via catheterization. The goal of this study was to determine the utility of follow-up TTE in patients who underwent an uncomplicated PDA device closure during infancy.

METHODS

Chart review was performed on patients who had a PDA closure at not more than 1 year of age between January 1, 2002 and June 1, 2020. Patients were excluded if they had other congenital heart disease, did not have a follow-up TTE at least 3 months after procedure, or had a velocity greater than 2.0 m/s in the left pulmonary artery (LPA) or descending aorta (DAo) on the first TTE at least 3 months after device placement. Time points included the first TTE after the procedure, first TTE at least 3 months after procedure, and the most recent TTE.

RESULTS

Total of 147 infants met the inclusion criteria. Age and weight at initial procedure were 141 ± 217 days and 4.2 ± 2.8 kg. There was no significant difference in DAo velocity between initial and most recent TTE. LPA velocity and left ventricular diastolic Z score significantly decreased between initial and most recent TTE. Seventy-eight patients had repeat echocardiograms more than 1 year after PDA procedure with no change in clinical management. No patient underwent an intervention on the LPA or DAo for stenosis.

CONCLUSION

In patients who underwent an uncomplicated PDA closure during infancy, TTE parameters either stayed stable or improved over time. These findings need to be corroborated in larger studies with longer follow-up. If verified, the long-term TTE guidelines may need to be simplified for this patient population.

Transcatheter Closure of a Patent Ductus Arteriosus Using a Piccolo Duct Occluder

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is feasible in low-birth-weight infants. A female baby was born prematurely with a birth weight of 924 g. She had a PDA measuring 3.7 mm. She was dependent on positive pressure ventilation for congestive heart failure in addition to the heart failure medications. She could not be discharged from the hospital even after 79 days of birth, and even though her weight reached 1.9 kg in the neonatal intensive care unit. We attempted to plug the PDA using an Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder, but the device failed to anchor. Then, the PDA was plugged using a 4-6 Amplatzer Duct Occluder using a 6-Fr sheath which was challenging.

Aortic migration of Amplatzer Piccolo™ ductal Occluder

We present the case of a 4-month-old, former 23-week premature baby who underwent patent ductus arteriosus device closure in the cardiac catheterisation lab with an Amplatzer Piccolo™ device at 12 weeks of life. This was complicated by late migration of the device into the aorta resulting in severe obstruction and requiring surgical intervention.

Utility of Follow-Up Echocardiograms in Uncomplicated PDA Device Closures Performed After Infancy

Introduction

Guidelines recommend lifelong follow-up with transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) for patients who had a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device closure via catheterization. The goal of this study was to determine the utility of follow-up TTE in patients who underwent an uncomplicated PDA device closure after infancy.

Methods

Chart review was performed on patients who had a PDA closure ≥ 1 year of age between 1/1/2002 and 6/1/2020. Patients were excluded if they had other congenital heart disease, did not have a follow-up TTE ≥ 6 months after procedure, had a residual PDA or velocity > 2.0 m/s in the left pulmonary artery (LPA) or descending aorta (DAo) on the first TTE ≥ 6 months after device placement. Time points included the initial TTE after the procedure, first TTE ≥ 6 months after procedure, and the most recent TTE.

Results

A total of 189 patients met the study criteria. The median age and weight at initial procedure were 2.7 (1.0–64.7) years and 12.5 (3.4–69.2) kg. Most recent TTE was performed 2.0 (0.4–17.0) years after PDA closure. There were no significant differences in fractional shortening (36.4 ± 5.0% vs. 36.9 ± 5.6%) or LPA velocity (1.1 ± 0.4 m/s vs. 1.1 ± 0.4 m/s) from initial to most recent TTE, respectively. Left ventricular internal diastolic diameter Z-score significantly decreased (1.4 ± 1.8 vs. − 0.01 ± 1.2, p < 0.01) and DAo peak velocity significantly increased (1.2 ± 0.3 m/s vs. 1.3 ± 0.3 m/s, p = 0.02) from initial to most recent TTE, respectively. No patient died or underwent an intervention on the LPA or DAo for stenosis. Seventy-five patients had a total of 208 repeat TTE > 1 year after PDA procedure with no change in clinical management.

Conclusions

In patients who underwent an uncomplicated PDA closure after infancy, TTE parameters improved or stayed within normal limits on the most recent TTE. Repeat lifetime TTEs after 1-year post-device placement in this population may not necessarily be needed if there are no clinical concerns.

Percutaneous Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Percutaneous-based patent ductus arteriosus closure is technically feasible among infants less than 1.5 kg. However, marked heterogeneity in the type and nature of adverse events obscures current safety profile assessments. Although data on the risks of postdevice closure syndrome remain promising, a lack of comparative trials of surgical ductal ligation and inconsistent surveillance across published studies obscure confidence in present estimates of safety and efficacy. To minimize risk and yield the greatest benefits, clinical studies of patent ductus arteriosus treatment should consider incorporating more robust assessments to ensure that infants at greatest risk for adverse ductal consequences are included.

Imaging the adult with simple shunt lesions: position paper from the EACVI and the ESC WG on ACHD. Endorsed by AEPC (Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology)

In 2018, the position paper 'Imaging the adult with congenital heart disease: a multimodality imaging approach' was published. The paper highlights, in the first part, the different imaging modalities applied in adult congenital heart disease patients. In the second part, these modalities are discussed more detailed for moderate to complex anatomical defects. Because of the length of the paper, simple lesions were not touched on. However, imaging modalities to use for simple shunt lesions are still poorly known. One is looking for structured recommendations on which they can rely when dealing with an (undiscovered) shunt lesion. This information is lacking for the initial diagnostic process, during repair and at follow-up. Therefore, this paper will focus on atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and persistent arterial duct. Pre-, intra-, and post-procedural imaging techniques will be systematically discussed. This position paper will offer algorithms that might help at a glance. The document is prepared for general cardiologists, trainees, medical students, imagers/technicians to select the most appropriate imaging modality and to detect the requested information for each specific lesion. It might serve as reference to which researchers could refer when setting up a (imaging) study.

Percutaneous Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Infants 1.5 kg or Less: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate technical success and safety of percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus closure in infants ≤1.5 kg.

STUDY DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. Data sources included Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PubMed from inception to April 2020. Publications were included if they had a clear definition of the intervention as percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus closure in infants ≤1.5 kg. Data extraction was independently performed by multiple observers. Primary outcome was technical success and secondary outcomes were adverse events (AEs). Subgroup analysis was performed in infants ≤6.0 kg. Data were pooled by using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

We included 28 studies, including 373 infants ≤1.5 kg and 69 studies enrolling 1794 infants ≤6.0 kg. In patients ≤1.5 kg, technical success was 96% (95% CI, 93%-98%; P = .16; I² = 23%). The overall incidence of AE was 27% (95% CI, 17%-38%; P < .001; I² = 70%) and major AEs was 8% (95% CI, 5%-10%; P = .63; I² = 0%). There were 5 deaths related to the procedure (2%; 95% CI, 1%-4%; P = .99; I² = 0%); 4 of these deaths occurred in infants <0.8 kg. The probability of technical failure was inversely related to age at the time of the procedure (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.830-0.974; P = .009). Weight at intervention has decreased over time and procedural success has increased.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus closure is feasible in infants ≤1.5 kg with few major AEs. The procedural success rate is high, despite performing the intervention in smaller patients.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42020145230.

Consensus Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Periprocedural Complications of Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure with the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants is a feasible, safe, and an effective alternative to surgical ligation and may be performed with an implant success rate of 97%. Major procedural complications related to transcatheter PDA closure in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are relatively infrequent (< 3%) ,but may be associated with a fatality if not optimally managed. Operators performing transcatheter PDA closures should be knowledgeable about these potential complications and management options. Prompt recognition and treatment are often necessary to avoid serious consequences. With strict guidelines on operator training, proctoring requirements, and technical refinements, transcatheter PDA closure in ELBW infants can be performed safely with low complication rates. This article summarizes the consensus guidelines put forward by a panel of physicians for the prevention and management of periprocedural complications of transcatheter PDA closure with the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in ELBW infants.

Fate of the Left Pulmonary Artery and Thoracic Aorta After Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Low Birth Weight Premature Infants

Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure (TCPC) is an emerging treatment for low birth weight extremely premature neonates (EPNs). Left pulmonary artery (LPA) and descending aorta (DAO) obstruction are described device-related complications, however, data on mid- and long-term vascular outcomes are lacking. A retrospective analysis of EPNs who underwent successful TCPC at our institution from 03/2013 to 12/2018 was performed. Two-dimensional echocardiography and spectral Doppler velocities from various time points before and after TCPC were used to identify LPA and DAO flow disturbances. A total of 44 EPNs underwent successful TCPC at a median (range) procedural weight of 1150 g (755-2500 g). Thirty-two (73%) patients were closed with the AVP II and 12 (27%) with the Amplatzer Piccolo device. LPA and DAO velocities on average remained within normal limits and improved spontaneously in long-term follow up (26.1 months, range 1-75 months). One patient, who had concerning LPA flow characteristics immediately after device implant (peak velocity 2.6 m/s) developed progressive LPA stenosis requiring stent placement 3 months post-procedure. In the remaining infants, including 7 (16%) who developed LPA and 3 (7%) who developed DAO flow disturbances (range 2-2.4 m/s), all had progressive normalization of flow velocities over time. TCPC can be performed safely in EPNs with a low incidence of LPA and DAO obstruction. In the absence of significant progressive vascular obstruction in the early post-procedure period, mild increases in LPA and DAO flow velocities tend to improve spontaneously and normalize in long-term follow-up.

Incidence and fate of device-related left pulmonary artery stenosis and aortic coarctation in small infants undergoing transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate short- and middle-term outcomes after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (TC-PDA) closure in small infants, specifically device-related left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis and aortic coarctation, risk factors, and changes over time.

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have demonstrated successful transcatheter PDA (TC-PDA) closure in small infants. LPA stenosis and aortic coarctation have been seen after TC-PDA, but it is not clear whether device-related LPA/aortic obstruction persists.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective study of infants ≤4 kg who underwent TC-PDA closure from February 1, 2007 to September 1, 2018 was performed, evaluating the incidence and risk factors for LPA stenosis and coarctation.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients underwent successful TC-PDA with Amplatzer Vascular Plug II (AVPII; n = 30), Amplatzer Duct Occluder II-Additional Sizes (n = 10), Amplatzer Duct Occluder I (n = 3), and coil-filled AVPI (n = 1) devices, all via an antegrade approach. Median birthweight and procedural weight were 890 g (range: 490-3,250) and 2.8 kg (range: 1.2-4.0), respectively. Median follow-up was 0.7 years (range: 2 days-7 years). Thirty-eight patients had post-procedure echocardiograms assessing LPA/aortic obstruction. Of those, 17 had LPA flow acceleration/stenosis (≥1.5 m/s), which improved or resolved in all patients with available follow-up; 3 developed mild coarctation (>2 m/s), which improved in the two with more than short-term follow-up; 4 developed mild flow acceleration (1.5-2 m/s) in the descending aorta, which resolved in three and increased in one (2.4 m/s). Flow acceleration in the LPA was associated with younger procedural age, larger PDA minimal diameter, and placement of a device other than the AVPII. There was no device-related mortality or need for reintervention.

CONCLUSION

TC-PDA in small infants is effective, without significant complications. Device-related LPA/aortic obstruction can improve with time/growth.

Transcatheter Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants With Very Low Birth Weight

Background: The aim of this study was to describe our experience with transcatheter device closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in symptomatic low-birth-weight premature infants. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of infants born with a birth body weight of < 2,000 g and admitted to National Cheng Kung University Hospital from September 2014 to December 2019. Basic demographic and clinical information as well as echocardiographic and angiographic data were recorded. Results: Twenty-five premature infants (11 boys and 14 girls) born at gestational ages ranging between 22 and 35 weeks (mean, 25 weeks) were identified. The mean age at procedure was 34.5 ± 5.5 days, and the mean weight was 1,209 ± 94 g (range, 478-1,980 g). The mean diameter of the PDA was 3.4 ± 0.2 mm (range, 2.0-5.4 mm). The following devices were used in this study: Amplatzer Ductal Occluder II additional size (n = 20), Amplatzer Vascular Plug I (n = 1), and Amplatzer Vascular Plug II (n = 4). Complete closure was achieved in all patients. The mean follow-up period was 30.1 ± 17.3 months (range, 6-68 months). In total, 3 patients had left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis and 1 patient had coarctation of the aorta during the follow-up period. Younger procedure age and smaller procedure body weight were significantly associated with these obstructions. Conclusions: Performing transcatheter PDA closure in symptomatic premature infants weighing more than 478 g is feasible using currently available devices; moreover, the procedure serves as an alternative to surgery.