Amplatzer duct occluder II for closure of congenital Gerbode defects.

BACKGROUND: Congenital left ventricle to right atrial communications (Gerbode defects) are extremely rare (0.08%) type of ventricular septal defects. They were traditionally closed by surgery in the past. There are few case reports and small series of acquired and congenital Gerbode defects, closed with various types of devices. Aim of our study is to assess the feasibility, efficacy, and complications of transcatheter closure of congenital Gerbode defects with Amplatzer duct occluder II (ADO II). MATERIAL: Twelve consecutive cases of Gerbode defects, age ranging from 10 months to 16 years (mean 6.7 years), weight ranging from 6.5 kg to 34 kg (mean 19.3 kg), were diagnosed on transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Transcatheter closure of Gerbode defects was done successfully through retrograde approach with ADO II. No aortic or tricuspid regurgitation or residual shunt occurred in any of the patients. One patient developed transient complete heart block needing temporary pacing. DISCUSSION: The soft low profile, easily trackable ADO II appears to be ideal for closure of Gerbode defects, as the central cylinder fits in the defect and the soft retention discs on either side, without polyester material, do not impinge on either aortic, mitral, or tricuspid valve. We report the successful transcatheter closure of twelve cases of congenital Gerbode defects with ADO II. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter closure of congenital Gerbode defects with ADO II is safe, effective, and an attractive alternative to surgical closure. ADO II appears to be tailor made for Gerbode defects, as the success rate is very high and complication rate is very low.

Challenges in device closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus in infants weighing less than 6 kg.

INTRODUCTION: Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has replaced surgery in most institutions. Despite improvements in techniques and the devices available, closure of large PDA in very small infants remains a challenge. AIM: To assess the challenges, feasibility, and efficacy of device closure of large PDA, in infants weighing ≤6 kg. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of device closure of a PDA was done in 61 infants ≤6 kg. Their ages, ranged from 9 days-12 months (mean 8.9 months), weight ranged from 2.2 to 6 kg (mean 5.3 kg), and PDA measured 3.2-8.7 mm (mean 4.8 mm). The fluoroscopy time was 3-18 minutes. The largest device used was 12 × 10 mm. RESULTS: Successful device placement was achieved in 60/61 infants (98.4%). Mild aortic obstruction occurred in 2 cases (3.3%), as the device got displaced towards the aorta after release. The device embolized in 2 cases (3.3%). In one it was retrieved by a novel method like fastening the screw in the aorta and was closed with a 4 × 6 ADO II. In the other infant, with a single kidney, died of uremia after device retrieval. Mild left pulmonary artery (LPA) obstruction occurred in one case (1.6%). Four cases (6.6%) had minor vascular complications. The postprocedure weight gain after 3 months was between 2.5 kg ± 250 mg. CONCLUSIONS: Device closure of large PDA in infants weighing ≤6 kg with left ventricular failure is challenging but possible, safe and effective. Retrieval of embolized device could be tricky.

A patient with aneurysms of both aortic coronary sinuses of Valsalva obstructing both ventricular outflow tracts.

Congenital unruptured aneurysms affecting both the right and left sinuses of Valsalva are extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, there has been only one previously documented case. We report here a patient presenting with congestive cardiac failure who also had unruptured aneurysms of both the right and left sinuses of Valsalva. The aneurysms produced obstruction of the outflow tracts of both ventricles, burrowing as they did into the muscular ventricular septum.

The efficacy of echocardiographic criterions for the diagnosis of carditis in acute rheumatic fever.

BACKGROUND: There is a great need for echocardiographic criterions for accurate diagnosis of carditis in acute rheumatic fever. AIM: To test the efficacy of proposed echocardiographic criterions for the diagnosis of carditis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 333 patients suspected of having acute rheumatic fever, undertaking detailed clinical examination, laboratory tests and meticulous echocardiography in each case. We used previously established echocardiographic criterions for the diagnosis of carditis and subclinical valvitis. In 220 cases (66.06%), both the echo criterions, and the Jones' criterions, gave positive results. In 52 cases (15.61%), we found evidence of subclinical carditis, in that clinically no murmur was heard, meaning the Jones' criterions were negative, but the echocardiographic evaluation was positive. In 4 patients clinically diagnosed as having carditis, the Jones' criterions were positive, but echocardiographic evaluation showed them to have congenitally malformed hearts. In another 57 cases (17.11%), the Jones' criterions were negative, as were the results of echocardiographic evaluation. These patients were taken as control subjects. On this basis, the echocardiographic criterions had sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 93%. CONCLUSION: Using our echocardiographic criterions, it is possible to make a precise diagnosis of carditis or subclinical valvitis. Hence, echocardiography should, in future, be included as a major criterion in the Jones' system.

Fetal echocardiography for early detection of congenital heart diseases.

BACKGROUND: Fetal echocardiography is a complete two-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound evaluation of the human fetal cardiovascular system. It is completely noninvasive, harmless, and also serves as the fetal electrocardiogram. AIM: To analyze the fetal echocardiographic cases referred to a tertiary cardiac center. MATERIALS, METHODS, AND RESULTS: A total of 478 cases of fetal echocardiograms performed over a period of 5.5 years were compiled and analyzed. Details regarding gestational age, maternal, family history, exposure to teratogens, and reason for referral were recorded. The average gestational age at referral was 24.8 ± 4.6 weeks and maternal age was 24.7 ± 4.3 years. Indications for referrals were abnormal fetal cardiac scan in 128 (26.8 %), previous sibling with congenital heart disease (CHD) in 99 (20.7 %), maternal indications in 87 (18.2 %), echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) in 87 (18.2 %), high risk in 50 (10.5 %), rhythm problems in 21 (4.4 %), and others (extracardiac malformations) in 6 (1.2 %). In the 87 CHD cases diagnosed, nearly 70 % had complex CHD and 66.7 % were referred only after 22 weeks of gestation. A further 103 cases had EIF, 17 cases had fetal arrhythmia, 3 cases had cardiac masses, and the remaining 268 cases had normal fetal echocardiograms. CONCLUSION: Fetal echocardiography can effectively identify abnormal hearts and has enhanced prenatal detection of CHD. The concern in the Indian scenario is the late referrals, lack of follow-up, and financial difficulties, all of which conspire against the chance of the fetus with heart disease getting appropriate treatment.

Initial clinical experience in transcatheter closure of large patent arterial ducts in infants using the modified and angled Amplatzler duct occluder.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility and efficacy of closing large patent arterial duct in infants, using the modified and angled variants of the Amplatzer duct occluder. BACKGROUND: Closure of large patent arterial ducts by inserting devices in sick and underweight infants, particularly those weighing around 5 kilograms, remains a challenge. Bigger devices require larger delivery sheaths and may cause obstruction either to the aorta or left pulmonary artery. Negotiating a large device is difficult or impossible, as the sheath gets kinked. Because of these problems, such underweight infants with large ducts who are failing to thrive, and in left ventricular failure with associated lesions, are typically referred for surgery, often leading to higher morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We attempted to close such large patent arterial ducts using the new Amplatzer occluder, modified with single layer of polyester, and the angled occluder, with no polyester material, inserted through a specially braided kink-resistant sheath. RESULTS: Closure was achieved in 10 infants, with mean age of 8.2 months, mean weight of 5.5 kilograms, the lowest weighing 3.9 kilograms. The mean size of the patent ducts was 6.3 millimetres, with the largest measuring 8.6 millimetres. We implanted 6 modified and 4 angled occluders. In one patient, suffering from hydronephrosis, a 14/12 angled device embolized and was retrieved, but the patient died. In the remaining patients, all ducts were closed completely, with no obstruction to either the aorta or left pulmonary artery. On follow up, all showed excellent clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: Complete closure of very large patent arterial ducts is now possible, even in very sick and underweight infants, using the large but low profile custom-made angled or modified versions of the Amplatzer occluder.