Complications continue to be associated with pediatric cardiac catheterization. Efforts should be directed to improving equipment for flexibility and size, and finding alternative methods for vascular access. Patient age and interventional studies are risk factors for morbidity and mortality.

Stent placement for coarctation of aorta is an effective treatment option, though it remains a technically challenging procedure. Technical and aortic complications have decreased over the past 3 years due to, in part, improvement in balloon and stent design. Improvement in our ability to assess aortic wall compliance is essential prior to placement of ISs in older patients with coarctation of the aorta.

Abnormalities were observed at intermediate follow-up following IS placement for treatment of native and recurrent coarctation of the aorta. Not exceeding a balloon:coarctation ratio of 3.5 and avoidance of prestent angioplasty decreased the likelihood of encountering an abnormal follow-up imaging study in patients undergoing intravascular stent placement for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta. We recommend IAI for all patients undergoing IS placement for treatment of CoA.

Background— Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) is a rare congenital lesion with high mortality. Therapy was exclusively surgical until recently, when the use of radiofrequency-assisted perforation of the atretic valve was introduced as a treatment option. This study analyzes the outcomes and morphological changes to right heart structures after percutaneous perforation and balloon dilation of the atretic valve. Methods and Results— Between April 1992 and August 2000, 30 patients with PA-IVS underwent attempted percutaneous valve perforation and balloon dilation of the pulmonary valve. Longitudinal echocardiographic measurements of the tricuspid valve diameter, right ventricular length and area were recorded. Z scores were calculated according to published formulas. Perforation was achieved in 27 patients. In 14 patients a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was performed between 2 and 24 days after valve dilation. There were 3 early and 2 late deaths. Among the survivors (follow-up time of 1 to 87 months), 16 patients had a biventricular circulation, 3 a 1 ½-ventricle circulation, and 1 a Fontan operation. Four patients are awaiting further palliation. There was no significant change of the tricuspid valve Z score or right ventricular length Z score with time. Conclusions— Percutaneous balloon valvotomy is an effective treatment strategy for patients with PA-IVS provided that there is a patent infundibulum and a lack of a right ventricle–dependent coronary circulation. Despite the observation that right heart growth does not increase with body growth in early follow-up, it appears adequate to maintain a biventricular circulation in many patients.

Although the majority of patients undergoing percutaneous balloon angioplasty for recoarctation of the aorta will achieve long-term benefit, the need for further surgical intervention in those with transverse arch hypoplasia remains high.

Stent patients had significantly lower acute complications compared with surgery patients or BA patients, although they were more likely to require a planned reintervention. At short-term and intermediate follow-up, stent and surgical patients achieved superior hemodynamic and integrated aortic arch imaging outcomes compared with BA patients. Because of the nonrandomized nature of this study, these results should be interpreted with caution.

Objectives: Characterize the safety and effectiveness of the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. Background: The presence of a hemodynamically significant PDA has been associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in children born premature. Methods: This was a single arm, prospective, multicenter, non-randomized study to evaluate the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder to treat PDA in patients ≥700 g. From June 2017 to February 2019, 200 patients were enrolled at nine centers, with 100 patients weighing ≤2 kg. Primary effectiveness endpoint was the rate of PDA closure at 6-month follow-up. Primary safety endpoint was the rate of major complications through 6 months. Secondary endpoint was rate of significant pulmonary or aortic obstruction through 6 months' follow-up. Results: The implant success rate was 95.5% (191/200) overall and 99% in patients ≤2 kg (99/100). The primary effectiveness endpoint was achieved in 99.4% of implanted patients. Four patients experienced a primary safety endpoint event (2 transfusions, 1 hemolysis, and 1 aortic obstruction). There were no branch pulmonary artery obstructions. Five patients, all ≤2 kg, were noted to have worsening of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after the procedure. None of the TR incidences manifested clinically. The Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder received FDA approval in January 2019 and became the first device approved for PDA closure in patients ≥700 g. Conclusions: This study supports the safety and effectiveness of the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder, particularly in patients between 700 g and 2 kg where there is currently a significant unmet need in the United States. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:

This initial experience showed dexmedetomidine, with or without the addition of propofol, may be a suitable alternative for sedation in spontaneously breathing patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.