ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel wire for echo-guiding percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) closure.MethodsTwenty sheep were randomly divided into two groups, an experimental group and a control group (n=10 in each group). In both groups, an animal model of ASD was established by transthoracic balloon dilatation, and percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect was finished only by echography guiding. The total procedure time, passing time (time needed for the guide wire to enter the left atrium), frequency of delivery sheath dropping into right atrium, frequency of arrhythmias and rate of complications were compared between the two groups.ResultsASD model was uneventfully established in all animals. ASD devices were successfully implanted in all sheep. Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly less mean procedure time and mean passing time, lower frequency of guide wire dropping into right atrium and frequency of atrial and ventricular premature contractions, respectively (15.36±4.86 min vs. 25.82±7.85 min, 2.69±0.82 min vs. 5.58±3.34 min, 0% vs. 40.0%, 4.41±2.61 vs. 9.60±3.68, 0.75±0.36 vs. 1.34±0.68; all P<0.05) . Two groups did not have serious complications within postoperative one week.ConclusionThe novel wire system is not only safe and effective in the treatment of ASD occlusion, but also easy to operate.
Transcatheter intervention for congenital heart disease has been developed for 40 years in China, it has experienced the transition of learning to self-dependent innovation, and witnessed the intervention therapy system starting from scratch and gradually reaching the top level and gaining high achievements in the world scale. With the continuous development of interventional technology and devices, cutting-edge ideas and viewpoints are constantly discussed. This review summarized the development of intervention techniques and devices, hoping to provide some experience for the further development of transcatheter interventions for congenial heart disease.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes of ascending aortic (AA) diameter after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and evaluate the safety and efficacy of TAVR in patients with AA dilation. MethodsWe retrospectively included 87 patients who underwent TAVR at our center from 2016 to 2019. These patients were divided into 2 groups based on the preoperative AA diameter. There were 17 patients in the AA diameter≥45 mm group (including 10 males, aged 74.4±5.6 years), and 70 patients in the AA diameter<45 mm group (including 39 males, aged 75.9±7.0 years). Results The baseline variables were similar between two groups (P>0.05). The overall device success rate was 97.7% (85/87). The median computed tomography (CT) follow-up time was 24.2±11.8 months in patients with AA diameter≥45 mm and 23.0±10.7 months in patients with AA diameter<45 mm, and the median annual dilation rate of AA were 0.36 mm/year and 0.00 mm/year, respectively. No statistical significance was observed between two groups (P>0.05). No adverse aortic events occurred during the follow-up period. ConclusionTAVR is safe and effective in patients with preoperative AA diameter≥45 mm, and the AA diameter remains stable after the procedure. Patients with preoperative AA diameter≥45 mm and AA diameter<45 mm have similar annual dilation rates.
Transcatheter left ventricular assist pump (LVAP) is widely used in cardiogenic shock, post-circulatory hypoperfusion syndrome and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and its application scenarios cover various complex environments such as ICU, operating room, emergency department and catheterization room. It is important to quickly and accurately implant the transcatheter LVAP and monitor its position in real time. This paper reported 2 male patients with high-risk PCI, aged 47 and 45 years old, both with triple coronary artery disease and reduced ejection fraction (<35%). The domestically produced transcatheter LVAP was implanted using an echocardiography guidance technology system, and PCI treatment was performed under the assistance of the interventional pump. The operation was smooth, and the interventional pump assisted for 1 h in 2 patients, and the pump was successfully removed. There were no obvious complications related to the pump and PCI after the operation, and the patients were discharged smoothly.
Objective To analyze the midterm outcome of patients with congenital aortic stenosis undergoing percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) by single echocardiographic guidance. Methods The clinical data of 12 patients with congenital aortic stenosis who underwent PBAV by single echocardiographic guidance at Fuwai Hospital from January 2016 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 18.27±15.30 years. The preoperative peak pressure gradient was 61.8–110.0 (80.30±24.50) mm Hg, and 50% of patients had aortic regurgitation. Results All patients successfully underwent PBAV. Aortic annulus diameter was 18.65±3.17 mm and balloon diameter was 17.62±3.77 mm, with balloon diameter to annulus diameter ratio of 0.92±0.07. The peak transaortic gradient was 16-51 (36.72±12.33) mm Hg immediately after procedure, which was significantly different from the preoperation (P=0.000). During the follow-up period, the peak transaortic gradient was 21-58 (37.06±13.52) mm Hg, and there was no significant difference between the follow-up and immediate postoperation (P=0.310). Immediately after procedure and during follow-up, 58% of patients had aortic regurgitation, which was not statistically different from the preoperation (P=0.682). Conclusion Systematic use of Doppler echocardiographic guidance for PBAV is feasible, and that it is associated with a high success rate and a very low complication rate.
Objective To evaluate the safety and mid- to long-term efficacy of surgical correction of isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (IPAPVC). Methods We retrospectively collected consecutive patients who were diagnosed with IPAPVC and underwent surgical correction at Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital from June 2009 to May 2019, summarized the basic preoperative and intraoperative data of patients, analyzed the postoperative and mid- to long-term follow-up results. Results A total of 54 patients were enrolled, including 29 males and 25 females, with an average age of 16.20±2.40 years, ranging from 1 month to 62 years. There were 28 (51.9%) patients with varying degrees of arrhythmia, 22 (40.7%) patients with cardiac insufficiency, and 39 (72.2%) patients with pulmonary hypertension. According to Bordy's typing, 14 (25.9%) patients were classified as type A, 23 (42.6%) type B, 4 (7.4%) type C, 5 (9.3%) type D and 8 (14.8%) mixed type. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in the whole group of patients and the accuracy of staging diagnosis was 66.7% (36/54), and cardiac CT angiography (CTA) was performed in 37 patients and the accuracy of staging diagnosis was 94.6% (35/37). All surgical procedures were assisted with cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping time was 0-219 (67.02±5.23) min, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 40-261 (105.09±5.23) min, and there was no serious intraoperative complication. Postoperative tracheal intubation time was 0-230 (13.33±4.20) h, intensive care unit stay was 0-13 (1.89±0.28) days, postoperative hospital stay was 5-18 (7.20±0.38) days, and follow-up time was 16-140 (62.58±5.12) months. There were 2 (3.7%) all-cause postoperative deaths, including 1 in-hospital death and 1 death during the follow-up, and there was no intraoperative death. Among the survivors, there were 3 patients with surgery-related complications: 1 patient had atrial septal defect with the second surgical treatment, 1 early obstruction of the superior vena cava and 1 arrhythmia. Two patients had complications of IPAPVC (atrial fibrillation, collateral circulation) prior to surgery and underwent the second surgery with a poor prognosis, and 1 patient had preoperative cardiac insufficiency and atrial fibrillation, whose symptoms persisted for a long time during the follow-up. Conclusion IPAPVC accounts for a lower percentage of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection, transthoracic echocardiography combined with CTA improves diagnostic accuracy, and IPAPVC should be treated with elective surgery after diagnosis. The surgical approach should be individualized with imaging features such as disease staging, number of drains and drainage location. Surgical treatment of IPAPVC is safe and effective, and regular follow-up is warranted.
ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility and safety of percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in outpatients.MethodsFrom December 2016 to June 2018, 50 simple ASD patients underwent TTE-guided transcatheter closure in the outpatient operating room of our hospital (a TTE group) including 22 males and 28 females at the age of 16-48 (27.40±6.95) years. Fifty patients with simple ASD treated with the guidance of conventional fluoroscopy during the same period were treated as a control group, including 22 males and 28 females at the age of 15-48 (28.58±6.96) years. Both groups were re-examined by TTE during follow-up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.ResultsThe mean age, body weight, the size of ASD and occluder and success rate had no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the TTE group had significantly lower mean operation time (P<0.01) and less cost (P<0.01) since patients need not to be hospitalized. No related complications were found in the TTE group during follow-up.ConclusionPercutaneous transcatheter closure of ASD guided by TTE appears safe and effective for outpatients, and can significantly reduce the cost.
Conventional transcatheter aortic valve replacement is normally recommended with transthoracic echocardiography, and contrast agent mediated fluoroscopy under anesthesia to guide a better implantation of the transcatheter valve. However, iodine-containing contrast agent possibly damages the patient’s kidney, and even induces the acute kidney injury. We reported a 75-year-old patient diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, moderate regurgitation, and chronic renal failure. We performed the aortic valve replacement under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal ultrasound without contrast agent. Seven days after surgery, the patient recovered well and discharged with alleviated aortic stenosis and fixed transcatheter aortic valve.
ObjectiveTo explore the method and feasibility of establishing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) model in Bama miniature pig by using autologous jugular vein, and to provide a large animal model for the development of PDA occluder and the study of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. MethodsFive Bama miniature pig weighing about 45 kg were selected to gain the PDA model of the autogenous jugular vein, which was fixed by glutaraldehyde and anastomosed between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery. The patency of PDA was confirmed by echocardiography and angiocardiography immediately and one week after the operation. Two animals were selected to undergo transcatheter closure of PDA via femoral vein 1 week after operation, and the rest were euthanized to obtain PDA and lung tissue for pathological examination. ResultsThe PDA model was successfully established in all five animals with a success rate of 100%. Immediately and 1 week after operation, echocardiography and angiography showed that PDA blood flow was unobstructed, and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that PDA endothelialization was good. One week after operation, two animals were successfully treated with transcatheter femoral vein occlusion. The pathological examination of lung tissue showed thickening of the intima and muscular layer of pulmonary arterioles, thickening of pulmonary interstitium and infiltration of neutrophils. ConclusionIt is safe and feasible to establish a large animal model of PDA by using autogenous jugular vein anastomosis between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery. The model can be used for the development of PDA interventional occlusive devices and the pathophysiological study of congenital heart disease-related pulmonary hypertension.
Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance only for patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted to include pregnant women who were diagnosed with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance only in Fuwai Hospital from August 2018 to June 2022, and their baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, echocardiographic results, and follow-up were analyzed. Results A total of 3 pregnant women aged 30-35 years, gestational age 19-26 weeks, NYHA function class Ⅲ were included. All the procedures were successfully performed. The mitral valve orifice area increased from 0.9 cm2 preoperatively to 2.1 cm2 postoperatively. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient decreased from 15 mm Hg preoperatively to 6.7 mm Hg postoperatively. No perioperative adverse events occurred. The follow-up time ranged from postoperative 3 months to 48 months. All patients delivered uneventfully and returned to normal life, with maternal-fetal safety. Conclusion Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance only is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis in pregnancy, with satisfactory maternal-fetal outcomes.