Between September 1992 and February 1998, 22 consecutive patients aged 4 to 90 days with critical valvular pulmonary stenosis underwent percutaneous transluminal balloon valvuloplasty. Sixteen were cyanosed and 7 required prostaglandin infusion. The pulmonary valve was successfully crossed in all patients. Progressive dilatation was used to attain a final balloon to valve ratio between 1.2 and 1.4. Mean right ventricular systolic pressure dropped from 109 ± 26 to 34 ± 1 mm Hg. Oxygen saturation increased from 84% ± 8% to 98% ± 2%. There were 5 complications including 1 death due to valvular damage, 1 hemopericardium requiring drainage and transfusion, significant blood loss during cannulation in 2 cases, and a fractured guidewire that was retrieved in another. Repeat valvuloplasty was performed in 2 patients. Two patients required surgery; one had a dysplastic pulmonary valve with persistent pulmonary stenosis and the other had a hypoplastic right ventricle. Of the 20 patients who had valvuloplasty alone, 17 (85%) remained well with a mean peak systolic Doppler gradient of 30 ± 26 mm Hg and no pulmonary regurgitation. We concluded that valvuloplasty is likely to be the only procedure necessary for the majority of infants and neonates with critical pulmonary stenosis. However, surgery is required in cases of dysplastic pulmonary valve or hypoplastic right ventricle.
This study reviewed the short-term outcome of transcatheter closure of the defects within the oval fossa using an Amplatzer Septal Occluder. From January 1997 to December 2000, 210 patients with defects within the oval fossa underwent successful transcatheter closure. We reviewed a total of 190 patients with left-to-right shunts, assessing the patients for possible complications and the presence of residual shunts using transthoracic echocardiogram at 24 h, 1 month, 3 months and one year. Their median age was 10 years, with a range from 2 to 64 years, and their median weight was 23.9 kg, with a range from 8.9 to 79 kg. In 5 patients, a patent arterial duct was closed, and in 2 pulmonary balloon valvoplasty performed, at the same sitting. The median size of the Amplatzer device used was 20 mm, with a range from 9 to 36 mm. The median times for the procedure and fluoroscopy were 95 min, with a range from 30 to 210 min, and 18.4 min, with a range from 5 to 144 min, respectively. Mean follow-up was 20.8 +/- 12.4 months. Complete occlusion was obtained in 168 of 190 (88%) patients at 24 h, 128 of 133 (96.2%) at 3 months, and 103 of 104 (99%) at one year. Complications occurred in 4 (2.1%) patients. In one, the device became detached, in the second the device embolized into the right ventricular outflow tract, the lower end of the device straddled in the third, and the final patient had significant bleeding from the site of venupuncture. There were no major complications noted on follow-up. We conclude that transcatheter closure of defects within the oval fossa using the Amplatzer Septal Occluder is safe and effective. Long-term follow-up is required, nonetheless, before it is recommended as a standard procedure.
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