Transcatheter occlusion of antegrade pulmonary blood flow in children with univentricular heart.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate the results of transcatheter occlusion of antegrade pulmonary blood flow in children with univentricular heart.

METHODS

Medical data of a total of seven patients (4 females, 3 males; median age 11.7 years; range, 1 to 24 years) who underwent transcatheter occlusion of the antegrade pulmonary blood flow following Glenn shunt or Fontan operation between September 2014 and January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Data including demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, type of surgery, echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization findings were recorded.

RESULTS

Four patients had a previous pulmonary artery banding operation, while three had pulmonary stenosis. Two patients had facial and upper extremity edema after Glenn operation, one had prolonged pleural effusion, one had prolonged pleural effusion after Fontan operation, and one developed dyspnea and effort intolerance several years after Fontan operation. In two patients, antegrade pulmonary blood flow was occluded to decrease systemic ventricular load before surgery. The Amplatzer Septal Occluder was used in five patients and the Amplatzer Vascular Plug-2 was used in two patients. Two patients developed transient, complete atrioventricular block during the procedure and the procedure was terminated early in one of these patients. Transient hemolysis was observed in one patient following the operation.

CONCLUSION

Transcatheter occlusion of antegrade pulmonary blood flow is an effective alternative to surgery in patients with hemodynamic compromise after Glenn shunt or Fontan operation.