Publications by authors named "David T Balzer"

Background: The Alterra adaptive prestent is a novel self-expanding device designed to provide a landing zone for the 29 mm SAPIEN 3 valve to treat pulmonary regurgitation in patients with a right ventricular outflow tract that is too large for a balloon expandable valve alone. The mechanism of fixation for the Alterra prestent is radial force from the self-expanding stent frame, combined with a unique set of flared "tines" that protrude from both ends of the stent.

Aims, Methods, And Results: In this report, we describe 6 patients who underwent uncomplicated transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with an Alterra adaptive prestent and SAPIEN 3 valve and had surveillance chest computed tomography (CT) scans performed 1 day to 21 months after implant.

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Background: Anatomic selection for Harmony valve implant is determined with the aid of a screening report and perimeter plot (PP) that depicts the perimeter-derived radius along the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and projects device oversizing. The PP provides an estimation of suitability for implant, but its sensitivity as a screening method is unknown. This study was performed to describe anatomic features and outcomes in patients who underwent Harmony TPV25 implant despite a PP that predicted inadequate oversizing.

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Article Synopsis
  • Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) using the Harmony valve is a new treatment for patients with pulmonary regurgitation, showing promising short-term safety and efficacy since FDA approval in 2021.
  • In a study involving 243 patients, the majority of whom had tetralogy of Fallot, acute technical success was achieved in nearly all cases, with a low rate of serious complications.
  • At a median follow-up of 13 months, 98% of patients maintained good hemodynamic function, indicating excellent short-term outcomes, while ongoing monitoring is needed for long-term results.
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Background: The Harmony TPV25 transcatheter pulmonary valve (Medtronic Inc.) is constructed with a self-expanding stent frame comprising six zigged nitinol wires sewn together and covered with knitted polyester fabric, with flared inflow and outflow ends and a porcine pericardial valve sutured to the central portion of the device. It was approved for treatment of pulmonary regurgitation after prior right ventricular outflow tract repair in 2021.

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To evaluate short-term procedural outcomes and safety for infants < 2.5 kg who underwent catheterization with intended patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device closure in a multi-center registry, as performance of this procedure becomes widespread. A multi-center retrospective review was performed using data from the Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Project on Outcomes (C3PO) registry.

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in predicting coronary artery (CA) compression during transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation (TPVi).

Background: TPVi is a widely available option to treat dysfunctional right ventricle (RV)-to-pulmonary artery (PA) conduits, but CA compression is an absolute contraindication. CMR can evaluate coronary anatomy, but its utility in predicting CA compression is not well established.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the regular introduction of new technologies into interventional cardiac catheterization procedures, in this case new atrial septal defect (ASD) closure devices, while conducting a multi-center collaborative initiative to reduce radiation usage during all procedures. Data were collected prospectively by 8 C3PO institutions between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017 for ASD device closure procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab during a quality improvement (QI) initiative aimed at reducing patient radiation exposure. Radiation exposure was measured in dose area product per body weight (µGy*m/kg).

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Objective: We compared 5-year outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) replacement with the Melody TPV in the post-approval study (PAS) and the investigational device exemption (IDE) trial.

Background: As a condition of approval of the Melody TPV after the IDE trial, the Food and Drug Administration required that a PAS be conducted to evaluate outcomes of TPV replacement in a "real-world" environment. The 5-year outcomes of the PAS have not been published, and the IDE and PAS trials have not been compared.

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Objective: For children with severe pulmonary hypertension, addition of Potts shunt to a comprehensive palliation strategy might improve the outcomes afforded by medications and delay lung transplantation.

Methods: A prospective analysis was conducted of all children undergoing Potts shunt (first performed in 2013) or bilateral lung transplant for pulmonary hypertension from 1995 to present.

Results: A total of 23 children underwent Potts shunt (20 surgical, 3 transcatheter), and 31 children underwent lung transplant.

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Background: There are limited published data focused on outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) with either a Sapien XT or Sapien 3 (S3) valve.

Objectives: This study sought to report short-term outcomes in a large cohort of patients who underwent TPVR with either a Sapien XT or S3 valve.

Methods: Data were entered retrospectively into a multicenter registry for patients who underwent attempted TPVR with a Sapien XT or S3 valve.

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Background: Studies comparing percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with surgical ligation tend to exclude premature infants and have not assessed procedural charges. We compared our contemporary outcomes and charges of device closure to surgical ligation of PDA in preterm infants.

Material And Methods: Preterm infants who underwent isolated PDA closure during their newborn hospitalization (January 2014 to September 2017) were grouped based on intention to treat (surgery versus device closure).

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Background: Endocarditis has emerged as one of the most concerning adverse outcomes in patients with congenital anomalies involving the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and prosthetic valves.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate rates and potential risk factors for endocarditis after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in the prospective Melody valve trials.

Methods: All patients in whom a transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) was implanted in the RVOT as part of 3 prospective multicenter studies comprised the analytic cohort.

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Background: Percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) has good clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in treating dysfunctional bioprosthetic valves (BPV) in the pulmonary position. Valve-in-valve therapy can further decrease the inner diameter (ID), potentially resulting in patient-prosthesis mismatch in patients with smaller BPVs.

Methods And Results: To evaluate feasibility and outcomes of intentional BPV fracture to enlarge the pulmonary valve orifice with TPVR, 37 patients from 13 centers who underwent TPVR with intended BPV fracture were evaluated.

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Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) in conduits ≤16 mm in diameter.

Background: The Melody valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) is approved for the treatment of dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduits ≥16 mm in diameter at the time of implant. Limited data are available regarding the use of this device in smaller conduits.

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Background: Stented bioprosthetic valves (BPVs) are commonly used for surgical pulmonary valve (PV) replacement in postoperative congenital heart disease, but develop structural failure in a time-related fashion. The Melody transcatheter PV (TPV) (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn) has been used to treat BPV dysfunction, but there have been few studies in this population.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study to evaluate Melody valve function in patients who underwent TPV replacement (TPVR) into a dysfunctional pulmonary BPV.

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Background: Since FDA approval of the Melody valve, transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) has been offered to an expanding population. Limited data exist regarding the safety and feasibility of TPVR in smaller patients.

Methods: All patients weighing <20 kg who underwent catheterization for percutaneous TPVR at four centers were reviewed.

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Background: There are limited mechanical circulatory support options for patients with single ventricle (SV) anatomy. This is a multicenter, retrospective study of the Impella pump to support the systemic ventricle in a cohort of SV patients with Fontan circulation.

Methods: Patients with SV anatomy supported with an Impella device from 2012 to 2015 were included.

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Background: Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is first-line therapy for some congenital heart disease patients with right ventricular outflow tract dysfunction. The hemodynamics improvements after PPVI are well documented, but little is known about its effects on the electrophysiologic substrate. The objective of this study is to assess the short- and medium-term electrophysiologic substrate changes and elucidate postprocedure arrhythmias.

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Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a common and important comorbidity in patients with postoperative right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction or pulmonary regurgitation (PR). Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) has become a useful tool in the management of postoperative RVOT obstruction and PR, but it is unknown whether relief of the right ventricular volume and/or pressure overload by TPVR will have a beneficial effect on TR, as is often seen with surgical pulmonary valve replacement.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with significant TR in patients undergoing TPVR for RVOT obstruction or PR.

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This retrospective study aims to evaluate radiation exposure by three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) during trans-catheter Melody pulmonary valve (TMPV) procedures. 3DRA has been reported to have added value in the management of complex congenital heart disease aiding in the performance of interventional procedures albeit with concerns of higher radiation exposure. We test the hypothesis that 3DRA does not cause additional radiation exposure during TMPV procedures.

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Background: Patients with a failing Fontan continue to have decreased survival after heart transplant (HT), particularly those with preserved ventricular function (PVF) compared with impaired ventricular function (IVF). In this study we evaluated the effect of institutional changes on post-HT outcomes.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for all Fontan patients who underwent HT.

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Objectives: This study sought to confirm that the short-term hemodynamic effectiveness of the Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota) achieved by real-world providers is equivalent to the historical results established in the initial 5-center Investigational Device Exemption trial.

Background: TPV replacement has been used to treat right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduit dysfunction for >10 years.

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