[Communication interventriculaire compliquant un infarctus de myocarde antérieur : un cas de fermeture percutanée]

INTRODUCTION

Post-infarction ventricular septal defect (PIVSD) is one of the most serious mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Over the last decade, percutaneous closure is increasingly undertaken, with results similar to cardiac surgery. We present a case of ST-elevated anterior AMI, complicated by apical PIVSD successfully treated with transcatheter closure.

CASE REPORT

An 83-year-old man was hospitalized for chest pain occurred 18 hours before, during the night time. He was an active smoker. Clinical examination revealed normal heart sounds and pulmonary bibasilar crackles. ST-segment elevation with deep T waves inversion in anterior leads were detected on the electrocardiogram. A mildly-reduced ejection fraction (40%) was found by transthoracic echocardiogram. The patient underwent emergency coronary angiography, which revealed a subocclusive stenosis of the mid left anterior descending artery with a TIMI 2 flow, treated by balloon angioplasty and drug-eluting stent. Four days after revascularization, the patient developed an acute deterioration with signs of decompensated heart failure and a new holosystolic murmur with large irradiation. Inotropic agents' administration was required to maintain a precarious hemodynamic condition. A bedside Echo revealed an apical VSD, measuring 15 × 10 mm, with left-to-right shunting, and pulmonary hypertension. The patient was scheduled for transcatheter PIVSD closure. The procedure was performed under fluoroscopic guide. Two vascular access sites were placed, femoral arterial and right internal jugular vein. Through the right internal jugular vein, a 24-mm Amplatzer atrial septal occluder on a 9 French Amplatzer TREVISIO™ intravascular delivery system was advanced via right ventricle into the PIVSD. Contrast fluoroscopy was used to assess apposition and the degree of shunt reduction before release. Echocardiographic evaluation performed 48 hours later confirmed a correct apposition of the device with insignificant residual shunt. At 6 months follow-up, he was asymptomatic, with unchanged prosthetic findings.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous closure has been emerged as a valid cost-effective alternative to surgery and should be advised. However, debate remains on the optimal preprocedural optimization, timing of repair and modality of treatment.

Transcatheter patent arterial duct closure in premature infants: A new technique to ease access to the patent arterial duct, with particular benefit for the tricuspid valve

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter patent arterial duct (PAD) closure in premature infants has been shown to be feasible. Since our early transcatheter PAD closure procedures in premature infants at Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, we have changed our technique several times to advance the guidewire through the right heart to avoid tricuspid valve damage.

AIM

To describe the technique we have been using since May 2019, to report our results with a particular focus on tricuspid leaks and to analyse the potential mechanisms of tricuspid lesion development with previous methods.

METHODS

All premature infants weighing<2kg who underwent transcatheter PAD closure with this new technique were included. Demographic data, procedural data, outcome and procedural complications were reviewed, with particular attention to the occurrence of tricuspid regurgitation.

RESULTS

Between May 2019 and May 2020, 33 patients were included. Median gestational age was 25 weeks. Median birth weight and procedural weight were 690g (range 490-1065g; interquartile range [IQR] 620-785g) and 1160g (range 900-1900g; IQR 1030-1300g), respectively. Median age at procedure was 35 (IQR 30-46) days. PAD anatomy was evaluated on transthoracic echocardiography only. The median duct diameter was 3 (IQR 2.5-3.2) mm at the pulmonary end. Success rate was 100% (defined as successful closure without residual shunt). One patient had a renal vein thrombosis, which fully resolved with low-molecular-weight heparin anticoagulation. No tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis of the left pulmonary artery or the aorta was seen. One patient died of a superior caval vein obstruction with bilateral chylothorax related to a central catheter thrombosis 56 days after the procedure, unrelated to the catheter procedure.

CONCLUSION

In this prospective study, we describe a new technique to avoid tricuspid valve damage and facilitate delivery of the PAD device.

Patent foramen ovale closure in children without cardiopathy: Child-PFO study

BACKGROUND

Closure of patent foramen ovale is well-managed in adults, but is performed less frequently in children.

AIM

To analyse all patent foramen ovale closures performed in the past 20 years in French paediatric centres.

METHODS

Retrospective study of patent foramen ovale closures in children without cardiopathy in nine centres between 2000 and 2019.

RESULTS

Forty-one procedures were carried out in children (median age: 14.9 years). Thirty-one patent foramen ovales were closed after a transient ischaemic attack or stroke, six for a left-to-right shunt and four for other reasons. Transthoracic echocardiography was used for 72.2% of the diagnoses and transoesophageal echocardiography for 27.8%. A substantial degree of shunting was found in 42.9% of patients and an atrial septal aneurysm in 56.2%. General anaesthesia with transoesophageal echocardiography guidance was performed in 68.3% of the procedures; local anaesthesia and transthoracic echocardiography or intracardiac echocardiography was performed in 31.7%. The success rate was 100%. The median fluoroscopy time was 4.14minutes: 3.55minutes with transoesophageal echocardiography; and 4.38minutes with transthoracic echocardiography (P=0.67). There was only one periprocedural complication (2.4%). Postoperatively, 80,5% of patients were treated with aspirin and 12,2% with an anticoagulant. The rate of complete occlusion was 56.8% immediately after the procedure, 68.6% at 1 year and 92.3% at the last follow-up. There were no delayed complications or cases of recurrent stroke during follow-up (median follow-up: 568 days).

CONCLUSION

Closure of patent foramen ovale in children appears to be safe and effective, as we noted a low rate of immediate complications, no delayed complications and no stroke recurrence in this indication.

[Coronary artery fistulas, a current problem: Clinical and therapeutic considerations]

The coronary fistula is a link between one or more of the coronary arteries and cardiac cavity or great vessel. The exact occurrence is unknown. The majority of these fistulas are congenital in origin. However, they may occasionally be detected after cardiac surgery. For a long time, fistulas are asymptomatic, especially if they are small; the frequency of the symptoms and especially the complications rise with age. The potential complications are: cardiac failure, endocarditis, endarteritis, atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, rupture, and thrombosis. The main differential diagnosis is patent arterial duct, while other congenital arteriovenous shunts need to be excluded. Even though echocardiography Doppler can help to differentiate shunts, the coronary angiography remains the main diagnostic tool for the description of the anatomy. For a long time, the surgery was the only therapeutic means, up till now, percutaneous occlusion is the first line therapy of coronary fistulas and that the different devices can be tailored to meet different anatomic and functional characteristics.

[Vascular complications at the femoral access: impact of the percutaneous closure device Perclose]

INTRODUCTION

Vascular complications at the femoral access site is an important factor of morbidity. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the percutaneous closure device (Perclose) during interventional cardiology procedures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients with percutaneous closure of the femoral access site by the Perclose system in 2010 were included. We evaluated the indications of the procedures, the success rate of implantation and the bleeding complications according to antithrombotic therapy used.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy five patients underwent a percutaneous closure by the Perclose system. Acute coronary syndromes with or without elevation of ST segment were the main indications of procedures (74.9%). The success rate of percutaneous closure of the femoral access site was 97.3%. The rate of minor, moderate, and severe bleeding of the entire cohort according to the GUSTO classification was respectively 4.2%, 0.5% and 1%. Bleeding complications were similar in both groups of patients (2.1% vs 7% P=0.122). In case of unsuccessful deployment of femoral closure devices, the risk of bleeding complications range from 4.3% to 60% (P=0.0000036).

CONCLUSION

The use of the Perclose system is associated with a low rate of severe bleeding at the femoral access site. However, the failures of percutaneous closure increase the risk of bleeding complications.

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus: past, present and future

This review aims to describe the past history, present techniques and future directions in transcatheter treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Transcatheter PDA closure is the standard of care in most cases and PDA closure is indicated in any patient with signs of left ventricular volume overload due to a ductus. In cases of left-to-right PDA with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, closure may be performed under specific conditions. The management of clinically silent or very tiny PDAs remains highly controversial. Techniques have evolved and the transcatheter approach to PDA closure is now feasible and safe with current devices. Coils and the Amplatzer Duct Occluder are used most frequently for PDA closure worldwide, with a high occlusion rate and few complications. Transcatheter PDA closure in preterm or low-bodyweight infants remains a highly challenging procedure and further device and catheter design development is indicated before transcatheter closure is the treatment of choice in this delicate patient population. The evolution of transcatheter PDA closure from just 40 years ago with 18F sheaths to device delivery via a 3F sheath is remarkable and it is anticipated that further improvements will result in better safety and efficacy of transcatheter PDA closure techniques.

[Interventional prevention of ischemic stroke]

Stroke is an extremely common condition, the important functional and financial impact of which requires intense prevention policy. This strategy includes the prevention of thromboembolic complications of atrial fibrillation. The management of atrial fibrillation includes risk stratification for stroke with theCHA(2)DS(2)VASc score and assessment of hemorrhagic risk with HASBLED score. The reference preventive treatment is anticoagulant therapy with vitamin K antagonists. Nevertheless, many patients potentially eligible for this treatment will not benefit from it, because of a high risk of bleeding, or because recurrence of thromboembolism occurs despite well-conducted anticoagulation. A new alternative intrventional treatment has been proposed for these clinical situations: left atrial appendage percutaneous closure. Several studies examined the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of three devices: the device PLAATO the WATCHMAN(©), and AmplatzerCardiacPlug™. The prospective multicenter randomized PROTECT-AF study demonstrated non-inferiority of the WATCHMAN(©) device compared to conventional warfarin therapy. Yet a medical reflection is still needed to determine the target population which may actually benefit from interventional treatment. Currently, clinical evaluation programs have begun in France with the aim to clarify the indication of non-drug preventive treatment of stroke.