Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in the elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Comparing the impact of transcatheter ASD closure on echocardiographic indices in adults below and above 50 years

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter device closure is the method of choice for the closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) with appropriate anatomic characteristics, leading to symptomatic relief, increased survival rates, cardiac remodeling, and improved cardiac function.

OBJECTIVE

Assessing the impact of transcatheter ASD closure on echocardiographic indices and comparing them between individuals younger and older than 50.

METHOD

In this retrospective cohort study, 240 patients with isolated secundum ASD and complete documentation and follow-up data who underwent transcatheter device closure between 2015 and 2019 were included. Demographic, peri-procedural, and echocardiographic findings were compared before and after the procedure and among two age groups.

RESULTS

A total of 240 patients (68% female, 44% younger than 50) with a median age of 51 underwent transcatheter ASD closure. ASD closure led to a significant decline in the size of four cardiac chambers and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP), in addition to a significant improvement in biventricular systolic function, LV diastolic function, and valvular insufficiencies. Although patients aged 50 and older had worse LV diastolic and RV systolic function, in addition to larger RV size and bi-atrial dimensions at the baseline, the extent of improvement of these parameters among them was significantly more pronounced than those younger than 50. There were no significant differences in the extent of the decline in SPAP between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Transcatheter ASD device closure is a beneficial procedure with high success rates and low complication rates among older individuals, eventually leading to improvements in cardiac form and function.

Long-term prognosis of elderly patients undergoing atrial septal defect closure: Are we acting too late?

BACKGROUND

Atrial septal defects (ASD) often go unrecognized until very late in life. The impact of ASD closure on life expectancy in elderly patients remains unclear. This study compares the survival of patients≥65-years who underwent ASD closure with their average life expectancy (ALE).

METHODS

Single-centre retrospective study including all patients ≥65-years who underwent ostium secundum (OS) ASD closure (surgical/percutaneous) between 1998-2020. Baseline characteristics and the predicted peri-procedural ALE (as determined per pre-defined national ALE tables) for every given patient were assessed.

RESULTS

706 patients underwent OS ASD closure, 37 (5%) had ≥65 years-mean age 69±5 years, 62% presented with heart failure. Mean ASD size=21±9mm, 22% patients had severe tricuspid regurgitation, mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP)=50±11mmHg. Five patients were treated surgically. At a mean follow-up of 9±5 years, mortality rate was 46%, occurring 8.8±5.3 years after the procedure. 25 (68%) outlived their predicted ALE. Overall, the mean age of death did not differ from the predicted ALE (79±6 vs. 84±1 years, p=0.304), however there was a 10-year absolute difference between patients who died prematurely vs. those who surpassed ALE (77±4 vs. 87±3 years, p<0.001). Patients who failed to reach ALE had higher SPAP (58±10 vs. 46±8mmHg, p=0.001) and a higher incidence of severe tricuspid regurgitation (42 vs. 12%, p=0.040).

CONCLUSION

Survival after late ASD closure was comparable to the expected ALE, though one-third of the patients died prematurely. Higher SPAP and severe tricuspid regurgitation were associated with premature death. ASD closure in elderly requires a thorough evaluation to ensure maximum benefit.

Interventions for adult congenital heart disease

Advances in imaging diagnostics, surgical techniques and transcatheter interventions for paediatric patients with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) have substantially reduced mortality, thereby extending the lifespan of these individuals and increasing the number of adults with complex CHD. Transcatheter interventions have emerged as an alternative to traditional open-heart surgery to mitigate congenital defects. The evolution of techniques, the introduction of new devices and the growing experience of operators have enabled the treatment of patients with progressively more complex conditions. The general cardiology community might be less aware of contemporary interventions for adult CHD, their clinical indications and associated outcomes than interventional cardiologists and congenital heart specialists. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the available transcatheter interventions for adult patients with CHD.

Secundum atrial septal defect closure in adults in the UK

AIMS

To examine determinants of access to treatment, outcomes, and hospital utilization in patients undergoing secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in adulthood in England and Wales.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Large retrospective cohort study of all adult patients undergoing secundum ASD closures in England and Wales between 2000/01 and 2016/17. Data were from population-based official data sets covering congenital heart disease procedures, hospital episodes, and death registries. Out of 6541 index closures, 79.4% were transcatheter [median age 47 years, interquartile range (IQR) 34-61] and 20.6% were surgical (40 years, 28-52). The study cohort was predominantly female (66%), with socioethnic profile similar to the general population. Mortality in hospital was 0.2% and at 1 year 1.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-1.2%]. Risk of death was lower for transcatheter repairs, adjusting for age, sex, year of procedure, comorbidities, and cardiac risk factors [in-hospital adjusted odds ratio 0.09, 95% CI 0.02-0.46; 1-year adjusted hazard ratio 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.9]. There was excess mortality 1 year after ASD closure compared with matched population data. Median (IQR) peri-procedural length of stay was 1.8 (1.4-2.5) and 7.3 (6.2-9.2) days for transcatheter and surgical closures, respectively. Hospital resource use for cardiac reasons started the year before repair (median two inpatient and two outpatient-only days) and decreased post-repair (zero inpatient and one outpatient days during the first 2 years).

CONCLUSION

This national study confirms that ASD closure in adults, by surgical or transcatheter methods, is provided independently of ethnic or socioeconomic differences, it is low (but not no) risk, and appears to reduce future cardiac hospitalization even in older ages.

Surgical Treatment of Atrial Septal Defects

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are among the most prevalent congenital cardiac malformations. Closure of the defect and repair of associated cardiac malformations are typically indicated if an ASD is hemodynamically significant or symptomatic. This narrative review aims to summarize key aspects of surgical ASD closures. A non-systematic literature review was conducted to cover surgically relevant aspects of (developmental) anatomy, morphology, and treatment. ASDs result from diverse developmental alterations, leading to subtype-specific associated cardiac malformations, meaning surgical therapy varies accordingly. Presently, surgical repair yields excellent outcomes for all ASD subtypes, with minimally invasive approaches, especially in adults, increasingly employed for ASD closure. Surgical ASD repair is safe with excellent results. However, familiarity with ASD subtypes and typically associated lesions is crucial for optimal patient management.

Congenital heart disease: types, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment options

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a structural abnormality of the heart and/or great vessels and patients with CHD are at an increased risks of various morbidities throughout their lives and reduced long-term survival. Eventually, CHD may result in various complications including heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, pneumonia, and sudden death. Unfortunately, the exact etiology and pathophysiology of some CHD remain unclear. Although the quality of life and prognosis of patients with CHD have significantly improved following technological advancement, the influence of CHD is lifelong, especially in patients with complicated CHD. Thus, the management of CHD remains a challenge due to its high prevalence. Finally, there are some disagreements on CHD among international guidelines. In this review, we provide an update of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment in most common type of CHD, including patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, coronary anomalies, left and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, tetralogy of Fallot and Ebstein anomaly. In particular, we focus on what is known and what is unknown in these areas, aiming to improve the current understanding of various types of CHD.

Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Congenital Heart Disease: Therapeutic Challenges and Future Perspectives

The increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults with congenital heart disease raises significant questions regarding its management. The unique underlying anatomic and physiological background further adds to the difficulty in eliminating the AF burden in these patients. Herein, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the pathophysiology and risk factors for AF in adult congenital heart disease, with a special focus on the existing challenges in AF ablation. Emerging imaging modalities and ablation techniques might have a role to play. Evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of AF ablation in adult congenital heart disease is summarized, especially for patients with an atrial septal defect, Ebstein anomaly of the tricuspid valve, tetralogy of Fallot, and Fontan circulation. Finally, any remaining gaps in knowledge and potential areas of future research are highlighted.