Cardiac catheter intervention complexity and safety outcomes in adult congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the intervention spectrum, complexity, and safety outcomes of catheter-based interventions in a contemporary adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) tertiary cohort. METHODS: All patients over 16 years who underwent a catheter-based intervention for ACHD in our centre between 2000 and 2016 were included. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, indications for and complexity of intervention, procedural complications and early and mid-term mortality were analysed. RESULTS: Overall, 1644 catheter-based interventions were performed. Intervention complexity ranged from simple (67.5%) to intermediate (26.4%) and to high (6.1%). Commonly performed procedures were atrial septal defect (33.4%) and patent foramen ovale closure (26.1%) followed by coarctation of the aorta (11.1%) and pulmonary artery interventions (7.0%). Age at index intervention was 40±16 years, 758 (46.1%) patients were male, 73.2% in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, 20.2% in NYHA class II, whereas 6.6% in NYHA class III/IV. In-hospital mortality was 0.7%. Median postinterventional length of stay was 1 day. Complications occurred in 129 (7.9%) with major adverse events in 21 (1.3%). One-year postintervention survival rates were 98.7% (95% CI 98.2 to 99.2). Over the study period, there was a notable shift in intervention complexity, with a predominance of simple procedures performed in early years and more complex procedures in later years. Furthermore, the case mix during the study broadened (p<0.001) with new catheter-based interventions and a more individualised approach to therapy. CONCLUSION: This study shows an increasing complexity and expanding variability of ACHD catheter-based interventions, associated with low major complications, short hospital stays and low early and mid-term mortality. Ongoing investment in ACHD catheter interventions is warranted.

Accuracy of computed tomography in detection of great vessel stenosis or hypoplasia before superior bidirectional cavopulmonary connection: Comparison with cardiac catheterization and surgical findings.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac catheterization is the gold-standard modality for investigation of cardiovascular morphology before bidirectional cavopulmonary connection, but requires general anaesthesia and is associated with procedural risk. AIMS: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and safety of computed tomography in diagnosing great vessel stenosis/hypoplasia compared with cardiac catheterization and surgical findings. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (10 after Norwood stage I) underwent computed tomography before surgery between January 2010 and June 2016; 16 of these patients also underwent cardiac catheterization. Proximal and distal pulmonary artery, aortic isthmus and descending aorta measurements, radiation dose and complications were compared via Bland-Altman analyses and correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The accuracy of computed tomography in detecting stenosis/hypoplasia of either pulmonary artery was 96.1% compared with surgical findings. For absolute vessel measurements and Z-scores, there was high correlation between computed tomography and angiography at catheterization (r=0.98 for both) and a low mean bias (0.71mm and 0.48; respectively). The magnitude of intertechnique differences observed for individual patients was low (95% of the values ranged between -0.9 and 2.3mm and between -0.7 and 1.7, respectively). Four patients (25%) experienced minor complications from cardiac catheterization, whereas there were no complications from computed tomography. Patients tended to receive a higher radiation dose with cardiac catheterization than with computed tomography, even after exclusion of interventional catheterization procedures (median 2.5 mSv [interquartile range 1.3 to 3.4 mSv] versus median 1.3 mSv [interquartile range 0.9 to 2.6 mSv], respectively; P=0.13). All computed tomography scans were performed without sedation. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography may replace cardiac catheterization in identification of great vessel stenosis/hypoplasia before bidirectional cavopulmonary connection when no intervention before surgery is required. Computed tomography carries lower morbidity, can be performed without sedation and may be associated with less radiation.

Ramipril and left ventricular diastolic function in stable patients with pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND: Measures of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function are known predictors of mortality after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. We aimed to characterise LV reverse remodelling achievable with ramipril therapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: A blinded post-hoc analysis of baseline and 6-month follow-up echocardiograms from the APPROPRIATE (ISRCTN: 97515585) randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of ramipril therapy was performed in 64 patients: 32 in ramipril and 32 in placebo group. Tissue Doppler systolic and diastolic myocardial velocities, mitral inflow velocities and time intervals were measured. Left atrial area and left atrial emptying fraction were calculated. There was significant increase in long axis shortening mean (standard deviation); MAPSE [1.9 (4.2) mm vs -0.2 (3.7) mm; p = 0.030], peak lateral systolic velocity; S' lateral [1.0 (2.0) cm/s vs -0.3 (2.2) cm/s; p = 0.025], peak lateral early diastolic velocity; E' lateral [0.57 (2.4) cm/s vs -3.3 (3.9) cm/s; p < 0.001], transmitral to lateral mitral annular early diastolic velocity ratio; E/E' lateral [-0.7 (1.9) vs 1.5 (1.9); p < 0.001] over the study period in the ramipril compared to the placebo group. Significantly higher measurements were observed in the ramipril arm of the subgroup of patients with right ventricular restrictive physiology in terms of peak late diastolic velocity; A [5.9 (13.5) cm/s vs -5.8 (12.5) cm/s; p = 0.041] and early to late diastolic transmitral velocity ratio; E/A [-0.18 (0.42) vs 0.23 (0.48); p = 0.037]. CONCLUSION: Six months' ramipril treatment appears to limit progression of both diastolic and systolic LV function in adults late after tetralogy of Fallot repair. With increased appreciation that even subtle LV disease predicts tetralogy of Fallot outcomes, further clinical trials of drug therapies are justified.

Left circumflex coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in scimitar syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Scimitar syndrome is a rare combination of cardiopulmonary abnormalities found in 1-3 per 1000 live births. Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is only found in 1 in 250-400 congenital heart disease patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the incidence of left circumflex ALCAPA within our referral center's cohort of scimitar syndrome patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of medical records, cardiac imaging and operative notes from all patients diagnosed with scimitar syndrome at our center between 1992 and 2016 was undertaken and all imaging reviewed. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients with scimitar syndrome and imaging were identified. Of these, 3 patients (1 male and 2 female) with ALCAPA were identified, representing an incidence of 5.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-11.67%). In all three cases, the anomalous coronary arising from the pulmonary artery was the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) and the point of origin was close to the pulmonary arterial bifurcation. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that the prevalence of LCx-ALCAPA, in the setting of scimitar syndrome, may be greater than previously thought. We suggest that any patient with scimitar syndrome, especially with evidence of ischaemia, should be investigated for ALCAPA. Given its noninvasive nature and simultaneous imaging of the lungs, we suggest that cardiovascular CT is the most appropriate first-line investigation for these patients.

Symptomatic partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defect repaired in infancy.

OBJECTIVES: Infants with symptomatic partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defect undergoing early surgical repair are thought to be at greater risk. However, the outcome and risk profile of this cohort of patients are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcome of symptomatic infants undergoing early repair and to identify risk factors which may predict mortality and reoperation. METHODS: This multicentre study recruited 51 patients (24 female) in three tertiary centres between 2000 and 2015. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defect, (2) heart failure unresponsive to treatment, (3) biventricular repair during the first year of life. RESULTS: Median age at definitive surgery was 179 (range 0-357) days. Sixteen patients (31%) had unfavourable anatomy of the left atrioventricular valve: dysplastic (n=7), double orifice (n=3), severely deficient valve leaflets (n=1), hypoplastic left atrioventricular orifice and/or mural leaflet (n=3), short/poorly defined chords (n=2). There were three inhospital deaths (5.9%) after primary repair. Eleven patients (22%) were reoperated at a median interval of 40 days (4 days to 5.1 years) for severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation and/or stenosis. One patient required mechanical replacement of the left atrioventricular valve. After median follow-up of 3.8 years (0.1-11.4 years), all patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I. In multivariable analysis, unfavourable anatomy of the left atrioventricular valve was the only risk factor associated with left atrioventricular valve reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Although surgical repair is successful in the majority of the cases, patients with partial and transitional atrioventricular septal defect undergoing surgical repair during infancy experience significant morbidity and mortality. The reoperation rate is high with unfavourable left atrioventricular valve anatomy.

Best practice critical cardiac care in the neonatal unit.

Major congenital or acquired heart disease in neonates presents with cyanosis, hypoxia, acute circulatory failure or cardiogenic shock. Antenatal diagnosis is made in up to 50% but heart disease is unanticipated in the remainder. The presence of significant heart disease in premature infants is also frequently not suspected at first; in general, whatever the underling cardiac anomaly, the clinical condition is worse, deteriorates more quickly and carries a poorer prognosis in premature and low birth weight infants. Although congenital cardiac malformations are the most likely, other important cardiac disorders are encountered. In general initial treatment options, often without a precise diagnosis, include diuretics, prostin, catecholamines, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, ventilation and occasionally ECMO but the key to successful treatment remains the correct diagnosis. Many conditions will only show significant improvement with treatment by the interventional cardiologist or cardiac surgeon.

Oral Enoximone as an Alternative to Protracted Intravenous Medication in Severe Pediatric Myocardial Failure.

Phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors have been used successfully in pediatric patients with acute or chronic myocardial dysfunction over the last two decades. Their protracted continuous intravenous administration is associated with risk of infectious and thromboembolic complications. Weaning intravenous medication and starting oral angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or beta-blockers can be challenging. We reviewed retrospectively hospital records of 48 patients receiving oral enoximone treatment in a single tertiary pediatric cardiac center between November 2005 and April 2014. Failure to wean from intravenous milrinone infusion and/or intolerance of ACE inhibitors and/or beta-blockers was indications for oral enoximone treatment. Age of the patients ranged between 0.5 and 191 months (median 7.5 months) at the time of starting enoximone treatment. There were 14 patients (29 %) with left ventricular dysfunction due to myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy and 34 patients (71 %) with myocardial dysfunction complicating congenital heart disease. Fifteen (44 %) of these 34 patients had left ventricular dysfunction, 13 (38 %) right ventricular dysfunction, and in 6 (18 %) both ventricles were failing. Duration of oral enoximone treatment was between 3 days and 34 months (median of 2.3 months). Myocardial functional recovery allowed for weaning of enoximone treatment in 15 patients (31 %) after 6 days-15 months (median 5 months). No adverse hemodynamic effects were noted. Blood stained gastric aspirates encountered in two patients resolved with concomitant milk administration. Based on our limited experience, oral enoximone is a well-tolerated and promising alternative to intravenous medication and/or other commonly used oral medications in selected pediatric patients with chronic heart failure.

Variants of the scimitar syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Introduction The scimitar syndrome comprises hypoplastic right pulmonary artery and lung, anomalous right pulmonary venous drainage to the inferior caval vein, aortopulmonary collateral(s) to the right lung, and bronchial anomalies. Aim The aim of this study was to describe the morphological and clinical spectrum of variants from the classical scimitar syndrome in a single institution over 22 years. RESULTS: In total, 10 patients were recognised. The most consistent feature was an aortopulmonary collateral to the affected lung (90%), but there was considerable variation in the site and course of pulmonary venous drainage. This was normal in 3 (one with meandering course), anomalous right to superior caval vein in 1, to the superior caval vein and inferior caval vein in 2, and to the superior caval vein and the left atrium in 1; one patient had a right pulmonary (scimitar) vein occluded at the insertion into the inferior caval vein but connected to the right upper pulmonary vein via a fistula. There were two left-sided variants, one with anomalous left drainage to the coronary sinus and a second to the innominate vein. Among all, three patients had an antenatal diagnosis and seven presented between 11 and 312 months of age; 90% of the patients were symptomatic at first assessment. All the patients underwent cardiac catheterisation; collateral embolisation was performed in 50% of the patients. Surgical repair of the anomalous vein was carried out in two patients, one patient had a right pneumonectomy, and one patient was lost to follow-up. There was no mortality reported in the remainder of patients during the study period. CONCLUSION: The heterogeneity of this small series confirms the consistent occurrence of an anomalous arterial supply to the affected lung but considerable variation in pulmonary venous drainage.

Uncommon variants of the scimitar syndrome in two siblings.

The Scimitar syndrome is a complex association of cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary abnormalities, with the main feature a partial or total anomalous right pulmonary venous drainage to the inferior vena cava. A number of cases that lack of all the features of the typical syndrome have been described as Scimitar variant, but the incidence is rare. Familial occurrence is exceptional and limited to few cases in literature. We report two sibling diagnosed with an uncommon variant of the Scimitar syndrome.

Magnetic navigation in adults with atrial isomerism (heterotaxy syndrome) and supraventricular arrhythmias.

AIMS: We analysed the type and mechanism of supraventricular arrhythmias encountered in a series of symptomatic adults with atrial isomerism undergoing catheter ablation procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population included consecutive adults with atrial isomerism who had previously undergone surgical repair or palliation of the associated anomalies. Patients underwent electrophysiological study for symptomatic arrhythmia in our institution between 2010 and 2012 using magnetic navigation in conjunction with CARTO RMT and three-dimensional (3D) image integration. Eight patients (five females) with a median age of 33 years [interquartile range (IQR) 24-39] were studied. Access to the cardiac chambers of interest was obtained retrogradely via the aorta using remotely navigated magnetic catheters in six patients. Radiofrequency ablation successfully targeted twin atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia in two patients, atrial fibrillation (AF) in three, focal atrial tachycardia (AT) mainly originating in the left-sided atrium in four patients, and macro-reentrant AT dependent on a right-sided inferior isthmus in three patients. The median fluoroscopy time was 3.0 min (IQR 2-11). After a median follow-up of 10 months (IQR 6-21), five of the ablated patients are free from arrhythmia; two patients experienced episodes of self-terminated AF and AT, respectively, within one month post-ablation; the remaining patient had only non-sustained AT during the electrophysiological study and was managed medically. CONCLUSION: Various supraventricular tachycardia mechanisms are possible in adults with heterotaxy syndrome, all potentially amenable to radiofrequency ablation. The use of remote magnetic navigation along with 3D mapping facilitated the procedures and resulted in a short radiation time.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: outcome of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) is an important cause of late mortality in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). We aimed to describe current practices for the management of postoperative PVO and the efficacy of the different interventional procedures. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective international collaborative population-based study involving 19 pediatric cardiac centers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden. Patients with TAPVC born between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2004, were identified. Patients with functionally univentricular circulation or atrial isomerism were excluded. All available data and images were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 406 patients undergoing repair of TAPVC, 71 (17.5%) had postoperative PVO. The diagnosis was made within 6 months of surgery in 59 (83%) of the 71 patients. In 12, serial imaging documented change in appearance of the pulmonary veins. Good-sized pulmonary veins can progress to diffusely small veins and rarely atresia. Patients presenting after 6 months had less severe disease; all are alive at most recent follow-up. Fifty-six (13.8%) of 406 patients underwent intervention for postoperative PVO: 44 had surgical treatment and 12 had an initial catheter intervention. One half underwent 1 or more reinterventions. Three-year survival for patients with postoperative PVO was 58.7% (95% confidence intervals, 46.2%-69.2%) with a trend that those having a surgical strategy did better (P = .083). Risk factors for death included earlier presentation after TAPVC repair, diffusely small pulmonary veins at presentation of postoperative PVO, and an increased number of lung segments affected by obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative PVO tends to appear in the first 6 months after TAPVC repair and can be progressive. Early intervention for PVO may be indicated before irreversible secondary changes occur.

Severe aortic or pulmonary valve stenosis in premature infants.

Successful treatment of severe aortic (AS) or pulmonary valve (PS) stenosis by balloon valvuloplasty in term neonates is well-established. Sometimes, AS or PS diagnosed antenatally, progresses to severe left or right ventricular hypoplasia respectively. Successful fetal balloon valvuloplasty cannot be assumed to significantly change the natural history. In this review of premature infants, balloon valvuloplasty was used in extremely small babies. Five with severe AS (32 to 36 weeks, birth weight 1.4 to 1.9 kg) had percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty during the first 10 days of life. Seven infants with severe/critical PS (28 to 36 weeks, birth weight 1.2 to 1.9 kg) had percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty during the first 9 days of life. Two with pulmonary atresia (1.9 and 0.85 kg), underwent successful radiofrequency assisted balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. There were no procedural deaths but one infant developed severe aortic insufficiency.

Remote-controlled magnetic navigation and ablation with 3D image integration as an alternative approach in patients with intra-atrial baffle anatomy.

BACKGROUND: Improvement in outcome of infants born with congenital heart defects has been accompanied by an increasing frequency of late arrhythmias. Ablation is difficult because of multiple tachycardias in the presence of complex anatomy with limited accessibility. We report on remote-controlled ablation using magnetic navigation in conjunction with 3D image integration in patients with previous intra-atrial baffle procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen patients (8 male; age, 30.5±8 years) with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) underwent catheter ablation. Group A had a medical history of a Mustard or Senning operation, whereas group B had undergone total cavopulmonary connection. A total of 26 tachycardias were treated in 17 procedures (median cycle length of 280 ms). Group A patients had more inducible SVTs than group B, and all index SVTs were located in the remainder of the morphological right atrium in all but 1 patient. Retrograde access through the aorta was performed and led to successful ablation, using magnetic navigation with a very low total radiation exposure (median of 3.8 minutes in group A versus 5.9 minutes in group B). Only 1 of 13 patients continued to have short-lasting SVTs despite 3 ablation procedures during a median follow-up time of >200 days. CONCLUSIONS: Remote-controlled catheter ablation by magnetic navigation in combination with accurate 3D image integration allowed safe and successful elimination of SVTs, using an exclusively retrograde approach, resulting in low radiation exposure for patients after intra-atrial baffle procedures (Mustard, Senning, or total cavopulmonary connection).

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: morphology and outcome from an international population-based study.

BACKGROUND: late mortality after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is frequently associated with pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). We aimed to describe the morphological spectrum of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and identify risk factors for death and postoperative PVO. METHODS AND RESULTS: we conducted a retrospective, international, collaborative, population-based study involving all 19 pediatric cardiac centers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden. All infants with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection born between 1998 and 2004 were identified. Cases with functionally univentricular circulations or atrial isomerism were excluded. All available data and imaging were reviewed. Of 422 live-born cases, 205 (48.6%) had supracardiac, 110 (26.1%) had infracardiac, 67 (15.9%) had cardiac, and 37 (8.8%) had mixed connections. There were 2 cases (0.5%) of common pulmonary vein atresia. Some patients had extremely hypoplastic veins or, rarely, discrete stenosis of the individual veins. Sixty (14.2%) had associated cardiac anomalies. Sixteen died before intervention. Three-year survival for surgically treated patients was 85.2% (95% confidence interval 81.3% to 88.4%). Risk factors for death in multivariable analysis comprised earlier age at surgery, hypoplastic/stenotic pulmonary veins, associated complex cardiac lesions, postoperative pulmonary hypertension, and postoperative PVO. Sixty (14.8%) of the 406 patients undergoing total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair had postoperative PVO that required reintervention. Three-year survival after initial surgery for patients with postoperative PVO was 58.7% (95% confidence interval 46.2% to 69.2%). Risk factors for postoperative PVO comprised preoperative hypoplastic/stenotic pulmonary veins and absence of a common confluence. CONCLUSIONS: preoperative clinical and morphological features are important risk factors for postoperative PVO and survival.

Morphologic and functional predictors of eventual circulation in the fetus with pulmonary atresia or critical pulmonary stenosis with intact septum.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the morphologic and physiological predictors of post-natal surgical pathway in a longitudinal series of fetuses with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) and/or critical pulmonary stenosis with reversal of ductal flow (CPS) using statistical modeling. BACKGROUND: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is rarely associated with chromosomal or extra cardiac malformations, so decisions about continuing a pregnancy are strongly influenced by the prediction of univentricular (UV) or biventricular (BV) circulation. METHODS: Predictive scores were derived, using a combination of z-scores of fetal cardiac measurements (for femoral length) and tricuspid/mitral valve (TV/MV) ratios, to facilitate early prediction of UV or BV circulation in 21 fetuses with PAIVS (18 fetuses) or CPS (3 fetuses) between 1998 and 2004. We also assessed the predictive value of coronary fistulae and right atrial pressure (RAP) score (comprising the tricuspid valve, foramen ovale, and ductus venosus Doppler). RESULTS: One-half of the cohort was first assessed before 23 gestational weeks (range 15.7 to 33.7 weeks). The TV z-score was a good predictor at all gestations, but the best predictive scores for specific gestations were pulmonary valve (PV) z-score (<23 weeks), median TV z-score (<26 weeks), the combination of median PV z-score and the median TV/MV ratio (26 to 31 weeks), and the combination of median TV z-score and median TV/MV ratio (>31 weeks). The RAP score and coronary fistulae were good independent predictors: RAP score >3 predicted BV with area under the curve of 0.833, and detection of fistulae usually predicted a UV route. CONCLUSIONS: The best predictive scores for post-natal outcome in fetal PAIVS/CPS are a combination of morphologic and physiological variables, which predict a BV circulation with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 100% before 26 weeks.