Mid-Term Outcomes after Percutaneous Closure of the Secundum Atrial Septal Defect with the Figulla-Occlutech Device.

Objectives: To evaluate the mid-term outcomes after percutaneous closure of the secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) using the Figulla-Occlutech device (FOD).

Background: Transcatheter closure has become the method of choice for most patients with ASD. Although the FOD may have some advantageous characteristics there is a paucity of data on later outcomes after the use of this relatively new device.

Immediate and short-term outcomes after percutaneous atrial septal defect closure using the new nit-occlud ASD-R device.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of implantation of the new Nit Occlud ASD-R® (NOASD-R) device for percutaneous closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD-OS).

Background: Device catheter implantation has become the method of choice for most patients with ASD-OS. No single device has proven to be ideal for this type of procedure.

Outcomes After Transcatheter ASD Closure.

Ostium secundum-type atrial septal defect closure has evolved from a surgical procedure requiring cardiopulmonary bypass to a percutaneous, catheter-based procedure usually requiring only an overnight hospital stay. The overall safety and effectiveness has compared favorably with surgical repair. Although rare, complications have been described, including erosion, device embolization, or malfunction and arrhythmias.

Future Directions of Fetal Interventions in Congenital Heart Disease.

Fetal interventions for congenital heart disease have become important treatment modalities in the past 10 to 15 years. The basic hypothesis has been that a prenatal intervention may remodel cardiac morphology and function to such an extent that it may favorably alter the in utero natural history, resulting in improved prenatal and postnatal outcomes, including an increased likelihood of achieving biventricular circulation. This review discusses the current indications, techniques, and outcomes of fetal cardiac interventions and provides a glimpse into the future with regard to technical improvements and newer treatment modalities, such as maternal oxygenation and in utero pacemaker implantation.

Double shunt technique for hybrid palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a case report.

We report a technique to palliate hypoplastic left heart syndrome, with no PDA stenting, but with double polytetrafluoroethylene shunt from pulmonary artery to ascending and descending aorta by combined thoracotomies. A 30-day-old female was operated with this technique. Five months after first operation, the child was submitted to Norwood/Glenn operation.

New imaging modalities in the catheterization laboratory.

Purpose Of Review: To provide an overview of the various modalities that have emerged in the last years as adjunctive tools to provide detailed imaging of the cardiovascular system in the catheterization laboratory.

Recent Findings: Completion angiography after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease using a dedicated hybrid operating cardiac suite may aid in early diagnosis and therapy of postsurgical abnormalities. The application of three-dimensional rotational digital angiography results in a more precise delineation of the three-dimensional anatomy of vascular structures outside the heart with rapid image processing and reduction of the amount of contrast used and ionizing radiation dose.

Hybrid management of a large atrial septal defect and a patent ductus arteriosus in an infant with chronic lung disease.

We report a case wherein a dysmorphic four-month-old infant (weighing 4.5 kgs) with an 8 mm atrial septal defect (ASD), a 1.5 mm patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a 2 mm mid-muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) associated with chronic lung disease, and severe pulmonary hypertension, was successfully managed using a hybrid approach, without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Use of beta-blockers in the post-operative period of Sano modification of the Norwood procedure with persistent cyanosis.

Persistent cyanosis is a frequent complication in the post-operative period of Sano modification of the Norwood procedure. It may be explained by a dynamic proximal shunt stenosis of the synthetic conduit that links the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery, as detected by echo cardiographic study. The use of beta-blockers in the post-operative period has been recently described in order to improve the arterial oxygen saturation.

Initial experience in Brazil with the Helex septal occluder for percutaneous occlusion of atrial septal defects.

Objective: To evaluate the initial clinical experience with the Helex septal occluder for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects.

Methods: Ten patients underwent the procedure, 7 patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) with hemodynamic repercussions and 3 patients with pervious foramen ovale (PFO) and a history of stroke. Mean age was 33.