Cardiovascular events in perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular volume overload: a French prospective cohort study (FRANCISCO).

The long-term prospective multi-centre nationwide (French) observational study FRANCISCO will provide new information on perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular overload but no pulmonary hypertension in children older than 1 year. Outcomes will be compared according to treatment strategy (watchful waiting, surgical closure, or percutaneous closure) and anatomic features of the defect. The results are expected to provide additional guidance about the optimal treatment of this specific population, which is unclear at present. BACKGROUND: The management of paediatric isolated perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) with left ventricle (LV) volume overload but no pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains controversial. Three therapeutic approaches are considered: watchful waiting, surgical closure, and percutaneous closure. We aim to investigate the long-term outcomes of these patients according to anatomic pmVSD characteristics and treatment strategy. METHODS: The Filiale de Cardiologie Pediatrique et Congénitale (FCPC) designed the FRANCISCO registry, a long-term prospective nationwide multi-centre observational cohort study sponsored by the French Society of Cardiology, which enrolled, over 2 years (2018­2020), patients older than 1 year who had isolated pmVSD with LV volume overload. Prevalent complications related to pmVSD at baseline were exclusion criteria. Clinical, echocardiographic, and functional data will be collected at inclusion then after 1, 5, and 10 years. A core lab will analyse all baseline echocardiographic data to depict anatomical pmVSD features. The primary outcome is the 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events (infective endocarditis, sub-aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, PAH, arrhythmia, stroke, haemolysis, heart failure, or death from a cardiovascular event). We plan to enrol 200 patients, given the 10% estimated 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events with a 95% confidence interval of ±5%. Associations linking anatomical pmVSD features and treatment strategy to the incidence of complications will be assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The FRANSCICO study will provide the long-term incidence of complications in patients older than 1 year with pmVSD and LV volume overload. The results are expected to improve guidance for treatment decisions.

Value of Image Fusion in Coronary Angiography for the Detection of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts.

BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography is more complex in patients with coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG). Image fusion is a new technology that allows the overlay of a computed tomography (CT) three-dimension (3D) model with fluoroscopic images in real time. METHODS AND RESULTS: This single-center prospective study included 66 previous CABG patients undergoing coronary and bypass graft angiography. Image fusion coronary angiographies (fusion group, 20 patients) were compared to conventional coronary angiographies (control group, 46 patients). The fusion group included patients for whom a previous chest CT scan with contrast was available. For patients in this group, aorta and CABG were reconstructed in 3D from CT acquisitions and merged in real time with fluoroscopic images. The following parameters were compared: time needed to localize the CABG; procedure duration; air kerma (AK); dose area product (DAP); and volume of contrast media injected. Results are expressed as median. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in patient demographics and procedure characteristics (access site, number of bypass to be found, and interventional cardiologist's experience). The time to localize CABG was significantly shorter in the fusion group (7.3 versus 12.4 minutes; P=0.002), as well as the procedure duration (20.6 versus 25.6 minutes; P=0.002), AK (610 versus 814 mGy; P=0.02), DAP (4390 versus 5922.5 cGy·cm(2); P=0.02), and volume of iodinated contrast media (85 versus 116 cc; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: 3D image fusion improves the CABG detection in coronary angiography and reduces the time necessary to localize CABG, total procedure time duration, radiation exposure, and volume of contrast media.

Cardiac imaging of congenital heart diseases during interventional procedures continues to evolve: Pros and cons of the main techniques.

Cardiac catheterization has contributed to the progress made in the management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). First, it allowed clarification of the diagnostic assessment of CHD, by offering a better understanding of normal cardiac physiology and the pathophysiology and anatomy of complex malformations. Then, it became an alternative to surgery and a major component of the therapeutic approach for some CHD lesions. Nowadays, techniques have evolved and cardiac catheterization is widely used to percutaneously close intracardiac shunts, to relieve obstructive valvar or vessel lesions, and for transcatheter valve replacement. Accurate imaging is mandatory to guide these procedures. Cardiac imaging during catheterization of CHD must provide accurate images of lesions, surrounding cardiac structures, medical devices and tools used to deliver them. Cardiac imaging has to be 'real-time' with an excellent temporal resolution to ensure 'eyes-hands' synchronization and 'device-target area' accurate positioning. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of conventional cardiac imaging tools used in the catheterization laboratory in daily practice, as well as the effect of recent evolution and future imaging modalities.

Computed tomography imaging in children with congenital heart disease: Indications and radiation dose optimization.

Computed tomography (CT) technology is acquiring a key role in the diagnostic process of complex cardiac congenital anomalies. Recent advances and improvements in spatial and temporal resolution and radiation dose are encouraging the use of CT scanning in children. Paediatric cardiologists should have a good knowledge of the potential of CT techniques and their limitations to plan and properly perform CT examinations without forgetting radiation concerns. In this paper, we will discuss the principal indications for CT scans in newborns and children in our clinical practice. We will also outline the most-used strategies for dose reduction. Basic knowledge about the various CT techniques is crucial, not only to perform, but also to interpret CT results, thus helping the medical and surgical management of patients.

Initial French experience of percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip: a multicentre national registry.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) using the MitraClip(®) is a new option for severe mitral regurgitation (MR). AIM: To describe initial French experience regarding short-term and mid-term safety and efficacy. METHODS: A multicentre cohort reported experience of percutaneous MVR using the MitraClip(®) in French centres from December 2010 to September 2012. All patients were judged inoperable or at high surgical risk. Short-term and mid-term safety and efficacy results are presented. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (72.7±11.4years; 71.7% men; 81.0% New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III or IV; logistic Euroscore 18.7±13.1%; 93.3% MR≥grade 3; 73.8% secondary MR) underwent percutaneous MVR using the MitraClip(®) under general anaesthesia. Procedural success was 95.2% (83.1% of patients received one clip; 16.9% received two clips). At discharge, 88.2% of implanted patients had a residual MR≤grade 2. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a significant decrease in ejection fraction (39.9±14.8% pre vs. 36.2±14.3% post), end-diastolic diameter (63.8±10.6mm vs. 61.4±12.3mm, respectively) and systolic pulmonary pressure (52.1±13.9mmHg vs. 44.7±10.9mmHg, respectively). The in-hospital mortality rate was 3.2%. The survival rate at 6-month follow-up was estimated at 83.1%, with 90.9% of patients in NYHA class I or II and residual MR≤grade 2 in 80% of cases. CONCLUSION: This initial French experience, despite being in its learning phase, showed promising results in patients considered ineligible for surgery, as observed in more experienced centres. Randomized studies are mandatory to confirm these preliminary data.

Investigation of a myxoma in the right ventricular outflow tract.

We describe an atypical myxoma in the right ventricular outflow tract of a 12-year old girl. After identification using echocardiography, we assessed its precise location and attachments by magnetic resonance imaging. Subsequent to surgical removal, histology confirmed the myxomatous nature of the tumour.