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Cardiology Research

Original Article

Volume 8, Number 6, December 2017, pages 286-292

Transcatheter Closure Versus Repeat Surgery for the Treatment of Postoperative Left-to-Right Shunts: A Single Center 15-Year Experience

Although significantly decreased due to the improvement of operative techniques, left-to-right shunts, e.g., residual ventricular septal defect (VSD), residual patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and new-onset left-to-right shunts still occur in patients after cardiac surgery [1-5]. While the majority of postoperative left-to-right shunts do not need to be treated [1], some of these shunts require re-intervention as they result in left ventricular volume overload, elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and predispose to infective endocarditis [2-9]. It is generally accepted that a Qp/Qs ≥ 1.5, or the presence of clinical symptoms, are indications for re-intervention [10, 11]. In this study, we present our 15 years experience in the management of postoperative left-to-right shunts with transcatheter closure (TCC) and repeat surgery.

From February 2002 to February 2017, a total of 50 patients with residual left-to-right shunts following cardiac surgery were treated with either TCC or repeat surgery at our center. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients prior to re-intervention. Collection and use of clinical data were approved by the Research Ethics Committee, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University.

The procedure was performed under local or general anesthesia (general anesthesia was performed for patients under the age of 12 years) with fluoroscopic and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) guidance. Patients were given 100 IU/kg heparin intravenously after femoral venous and arterial access.

For closure of residual VSDs, standard right heart catheterization, angiography of left ventricle and ascending aorta were performed in all cases according to the techniques described previously [12]. Perimembranous VSD (pmVSD) occluders (Lifetech Ltd, Shenzhen, China) approximately 2 - 3 mm greater than the shunt size, were selected. The arterio-venous circuit was created, and the device was deployed under fluoroscopic control. Successful closures were made when the device was implanted in the appropriate position without significant complications.

For closure of residual PDAs, PDA occluders (Lifetech Ltd, Shenzhen, China) sized approximately 2 - 3 mm greater than the narrowest portion of PDA were used. As described previously [13], the delivery sheath was positioned anterogradely from the main pulmonary artery through PDA into the descending aorta. The device was then deployed under fluoroscopic control, and released once the final position was assessed. When it was difficult to direct the multipurpose catheter through the PDA in the anterograde approach, the retrograde wire-assisted technique was used through the establishment of an arteriovenous wire loop as described elsewhere [14].

In our series, two patients had new-onset ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms (RSVAs) with one originating from the non-coronary artery sinus and ruptured into the right atrium (RSVA-RA), and the other originating from the right coronary sinus and into the right ventricular outflow tract (RSVA-RVOT). For closure of new-onset RSVA, routine right and left cardiac catheterization was performed to obtain hemodynamic data. Aortic root angiography was performed in two views; the left anterior oblique with cranial tilt (LAO 60, 20 - 30 cranial) and the right anterior oblique (RAO 30), to delineate the RSVA, the origin of the RSVA, and its fistulous connections to the cardiac chambers. The stable arterial-venous wire loop was then established via the RSVA. A pmVSD occluder for RSVA-RVOT and a PDA occluder (Lifetech Ltd, Shenzhen, China) for RSVA-RA were used, respectively. Under the guidance of fluoroscopy and TTE, the device was deployed at the opening of the RSVA. Aortography and TTE were repeated to confirm that the RSVA was closed completely, and that there was no significant aortic or tricuspid regurgitation. Coronary angiography was performed to ensure that there was no encroachment on the coronary arteries, and then the device was released [5].

Median re-sternotomy was performed in all patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate systemic hypothermia was established either through the femoral vessels or the subclavian artery and femoral vein. After the ascending aorta was cross-clamped, the cold blood cardioplegia was infused into the root of the aorta until diastolic arrest was achieved. Residual VSD was exposed through the right atrium or the right ventricular outflow tract, and repaired with either direct sutures or patch of Dacron (interrupted pledgeted sutures or a continuous suture).

All patients underwent clinical examination and telemetry monitoring for 24 h after shunt closure. Aspirin was prescribed 3 - 5 mg/kg/day for those with TCC for 6 months post procedure. Clinical examination, standard 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), chest X-ray, and TTE were performed before hospital discharge, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post procedure and yearly thereafter.

The continuous data between the two groups were compared and analyzed with the Student’s t-test. The categorical data were analyzed by the Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered significantly different.

Patients’ follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 15.5 years. The demographics and clinical characteristics of the patients, undergoing TCC or reoperation, are listed in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. There was no significant difference in age, gender or shunt size between the two groups. For those with TCC, 25 had a residual VSD, four patients had a residual PDA and two patients had new-onset RSVA (one with RSVA-RVOT and the other with RSVA-RA). The procedures of TCC of residual VSD, residual PDA and RSVA-RVOT are depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3, respectively. All 19 patients in the repeat surgery group had residual VSD. There were no procedure-related deaths in either group. In the TCC group, one patient had incomplete right bundle branch block, and two patients had trivial post-procedural intraprosthetic residual shunts that disappeared by 3 months follow-up. There was no atrioventricular block (AVB), hemolysis, new-onset residual shunt, device embolization, device dislocation, infective endocarditis, or new-onset aortic/tricuspid regurgitation seen in the TCC patients. In the surgical group, complications following surgery included bleeding requiring peri/post-procedural blood transfusion (11/19, 57.9%), nosocomial infection (3/19, 15.8%), wound dehiscence (2/19, 10.5%) and renal insufficiency (1/19, 5.3%) (Table 2).

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Table 1. Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Closure

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Table 2. Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients Treated With Reoperation

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Figure 1. Transcatheter closure of a residual VSD. (a) Angiography of left ventricle via a 4F pigtail catheter inserted through the right femoral artery showed the residual VSD (indicated by the arrow). (b) Via the right femoral vein, a femoral vein-inferior vena cava-right ventricle-residual VSD-left ventricle-aorta-right femoral artery loop was established using a 260 cm loach guide wire. Afterwards, a 6-F delivery catheter was advanced along the loop to the left ventricle. (c) The loop wire was withdrawn. Subsequently, a VSD occluder was delivered to left ventricle and then opened in following sequence: left disc, waist and right disc. (d) After repeated angiography showed that the shunt disappeared, and then the occluder was released.

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Figure 2. Transcatheter closure of a residual PDA. (a) Angiography of the aortic arch via a 5-F pigtail catheter that was inserted through the right femoral artery showed the residual PDA shunt (indicated by the arrow). (b) By the access of right femoral vein, a MPA2 catheter was advanced via right ventricle, pulmonary artery, PDA to the descending aorta followed by the insert of a 260 mm wire. After the MPA2 catheter was withdrawn, an 8-F delivery sheath was advanced along the wire and the duct occluder was delivered, positioned and opened in such a sequence that the aortic end of the occluder was first opened and then the pulmonary artery end. (c) Repeated angiography showed the occluder was properly placed and the shunt disappeared, and then the duct occluder was released.

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Figure 3. Transcatheter closure of a RSVA. (a) Angiography of right coronary sinus via a MPA1 catheter that was inserted into the right femoral artery showed the shunt from right coronary sinus to the right ventricular outflow tract (as indicated by the arrow). (b) Angiography after the MPA1 catheter was further advanced to the pulmonary artery confirmed the shunt (arrow). (c) Via the right femoral vein, a femoral vein-inferior vena cava-right ventricle-RSVA-aorta-right femoral artery loop was established using a 260 cm loach guide wire. (d) A 7-F delivery sheath was advanced along the loop to ascending aorta, and then a 7 mm VSD occluder was delivered passing the RSVA and opened in following sequence: left disc, waist and right disc. (e) The loop wire was withdrawn and angiography showed the shunt disappeared. (f) The occluder was released, delivery catheter withdrawn and repeated angiography showed the occluder was properly placed.

The data from all patients is further summarized in Table 3. After a hybrid operating room was established and became operational at our center in 2010, 85.7% (30/35) of patients have received percutaneous intervention. Prior to opening the hybrid room, 93.3% of patients (14/15) underwent reoperation. The procedure time for TCC was 58.9 ± 27.7 min, which was significantly shorter than 256.7 ± 60.5 min of the reoperation group (P < 0.001). The length of hospital stay for patients with TCC was 6.1 ± 0.8 days, also significantly shorter compared with that of the reoperation group (P < 0.001).

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Table 3. Summarized Data for Patients Undergoing TCC and Reoperation

During a period of 15 years, a total of 50 patients with postoperative left-to-right shunts were treated with TCC or repeat surgery at our center. Among all cases treated, the majority had a residual VSD (88%, 44/50). Surgery is regarded as the standard of care for most VSDs [1, 2], but reoperation requires cardiopulmonary bypass, and is associated with hemodynamic instability, shunt recurrence, morbidity, and mortality [2, 15]. In the surgical group, VSD closure was 100% successful, but, post-surgery complications were seen in over half of the patients. Additionally, procedure time and hospital stay for patients who had undergone surgical closure were markedly longer than those in the TCC group.

TCC has been reported to be safe and effective in the closure of both congenital and postoperative VSDs [6-9, 16-20]. Knauth et al summarized their 13-year experience in treating congenital and residual VSDs using STARFlex-type devices [6]. They implanted the device successfully in 77 out of a total of 78 patients with residual VSDs, but observed that adverse events, mainly caused by device malposition, were common. Walsh et al performed TCC for postoperative VSDs with the Amplatzer device in nine patients, and observed complete closure in six cases, and a small residual shunt in three cases [7]. No serious complications were seen during follow-up (1 - 4 years). Dua et al reported the early and mid-term (median follow-up: 2.7 years) results of TCC of residual VSDs using the Amplatzer VSD occluder in 22 patients. The success rate was 95.5% (21/22) with three minor adverse events being observed before discharge. There was no procedure-related mortality and no late events during follow-ups [8]. Zhang used the Amplatzer VSD occluder to manage residual VSD in 21 patients and attained a 100% occlusion rate with one having serious intravascular hemolysis that was recovered after 7 days of therapy [9]. No serious complications occurred during 1 year follow-up. These data, together with ours, suggest that the Amplatzer device is preferred to reduce complications [7-9, 19].

TCC has overwhelmingly replaced surgical treatment for every type of PDA in different age groups, except in neonates or small infants with large symptomatic PDAs [13, 21]. Coil implantation is the best option for treatment of small shunts (< 2 mm) [21-23], and for larger shunts the Amplatzer duct occluder appears to be superior [21, 24]. A residual PDA tends to be less distensible than a previously untreated one due to reactive fibrosis around the duct. This makes a TCC more difficult and a retrograde or snare technique is often used instead of a standard anterograde approach. In this study, the snare technique was used in two of the four patients with a residual PDA. TCC was successful in all patients with a residual PDA, without complications.

TCC is a relatively new treatment modality for isolated RSVA. Thus far, specific devices for RSVA closure are not available, and devices such as the Gianturco coil, the VSD occlude, and the Amplatzer and other duct occluders have been used. Of these different devices, duct occluders are the most commonly used and have been proven to be safe and effective [25-28]. Fang et al reported the long-term outcomes of TCC using a PDA occluder (Lifetech Ltd, Shenzhen, China) in 17 patients [27]. The procedural success rate was 94.1%, and all patients had complete occlusion at discharge. There were no late complications during a median follow-up of 42 months. Kerkar et al reported procedural success in 18 out of 20 patients treated with the Amplatzer duct occluder. Thirteen had complete closure, and five patients had mild residual shunts at discharge [28]. In our series, two patients suffered new-onset RSVA after VSD repair, with one being RSVA-RA and the other being RSVA-RVOT. The PDA occluder was used in the patient with RSVA-RA. Considering the possibility that the PDA device may cause iatrogenic RVOT obstruction, a VSD occluder was chosen and implanted successfully for the patient with RSVA-RVOT.

Our experience with TCC closure of postoperative left-to-right shunts adds to the accumulating evidence of high occlusion rates with few serious complications and supports the opinion that TCC is the favored closure strategy over repeat surgery in most instances. Careful preoperative planning and multi-modal cardiac imaging in a hybrid operating suite are critically important for safe and successful TCC of postoperative left-to-right shunts. A limitation of this study is that this is a single center experience.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Funding Support

This study was funded in part by the Independent Innovation Foundation of Shandong University (grant number 2012TS171) and the Research Fund for Outstanding Young Scientists of Shandong Province (grant number 2006BS03014), China.

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