ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and safety of esophageal ultrasound-guided percutaneous femoral artery closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD).MethodsThe clinical data of 24 patients with congenital VSD in our hospital from March 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 6 males and 18 females, with a median age of 12 (3-42) years, weight of 32 (12-91) kg, and VSD diameter of 4 (3-7) mm. There were 3 patients with VSD combined with atrial septal defect.ResultsTwenty-four patients successfully underwent interventional closure of percutaneous femoral artery under esophageal ultrasound guidance, and the position and shape of the occluders were good. The operation time was 45 (39-54) min, and the waist size of the occluders was 7 (5-12) mm. Among the patients, 14 patients used symmetric ventricular occlusion devices, 8 patients used asymmetric ventricular occlusion devices, and 2 patients used ventricular occlusion muscle occluders. Small amount of residual shunt occurred in 2 patients after the operation and it disappeared 3 months after the operation. One patient with right bundle branch block, which disappeared after 1 week of observation. There were no complications such as occluder closure, pericardial effusion or valve regurgitation during the perioperative period. During the follow-up period [3-18 (9.25±5.04) months], no serious complication occurred.ConclusionTransesophageal ultrasound-guided transfemoral artery occlusion for VSD is simple and safe, and it avoids the damage of radiation and contrast medium. It has advantages over traditional percutaneous interventional occlusion therapy.
We reported a 65-year-old female who was admitted to our institute with "recurrent subxiphoid pain accompanied by dyspnea for more than 10 days". Electrocardiogram examination suggested acute extensive anterior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography suggested ventricular septal rupture. The patient was planned for the repair of ventricular septal rupture with cardiopulmonary bypass. The formation of left ventricular aneurysm was diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The surgeon decided to abdopt the modified incision of left ventricular approach guided by TEE, which greatly improved the prognosis of the patient. The surgery duration was 197 min, aortic cross-clamping time was 56 min, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 69 min, and the patient was safely admitted to ICU after the surgery. Extubation was performed on the first day postoperatively, and the intra-aortic balloon pump support was retreated on the second day postoperatively. Postoperative echocardiography showed that no obvious residual shunt was observed after ventricular septal repairment and ventricular aneurysm resection. The patient was discharged on the 12th day after the surgery. Additionally, the mental condition was good and daily activities were not limited within 6 months postoperatively.
Objective To analyze the echocardiographic characteristics of above grade 3+ mitral regurgitation (MR) patients by 3D transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) in transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) and compare the intervention rate of TEER treatment in patients with different risk stratification. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 91 patients with above grade 3+ MR in Anzhen Hospital between June 2021 and April 2022. There were 45 males and 46 females aged 66.5±15.9 years. According to pathogenesis, the patients were divided into different anatomical groups and risk stratification groups. There were 34 patients in a simple degenerative group (simple DMR group), 28 patietns in a complex disease group (Complex group), 14 patients in a simple ventricular functional reflux group (simple VFMR group), 9 patients in a simple atrial functional reflux group (simple AFMR group), and 6 patients in a mixed functional reflux group (mixed FMR group). All patients were examined with a unified standard of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and 3D-TEE to compare the characteristic three-dimensional structural changes of the mitral valve in each group. According to the three partition strategy of preoperative anatomical evaluation of TEER, the risk stratification was conducted for the enrolled patients, which was divided into three regions from light to heavy: green area, yellow area, and red area. TEER treatment intervention rate of patients with different risk stratification was calculated. Results Ant leaf angle and post leaf angle were negative in the simple DMR and Complex groups, and non-planar angle, prolapse height and prolapse volume were higher than those of the other groups (P=0.000). Ant leaf angle and post leaf angle were positive in the VFMR group and the mixed FMR group. Anterior and posterior (AP) diameter of valve ring (P=0.036), tenting height and tenting volume were higher than those of other groups (P=0.000). AP diameter, tenting height and tenting volume were changed mildly in patients with simple AFMR. MR patients in red and yellow zone achieved a 28.1% TEER intervention rate.Conclusion Standardized TTE and TEE examinations are crucial for the qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of MR in the echo core-lab. 3D-TEE mitral valve parameter can help determine the exact pathogenesis of MR and to improve the interventional rate of challenging MR patients.
Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) guided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and summarize the experience of some difficult cases. MethodsThe patients who underwent the percutaneous PFO occlusion in our hospital from January 2020 to May 2023 were retrospectively enrolled. Dynamic monitoring data of TEE before, during, and after the operation were recorded. Results A total of 68 patients including 30 males and 38 females at an average age of (45.6±16.3) years were included. There were 7 patients with complex PFO. Under TEE guidance, 65 patients successfully completed the occlusion treatment, with an average operation time of (55.6±26.2) min and hospital stay time of (4.2±1.1) d, and 3 patients failed to close. During the operation, the two-dimensional TEE images of the patients were clear, which fully and clearly showed the process of the sheath canal passing through the foramen ovale and the continuous observation of the occlusive umbrella after releasing the occlusive umbrella. The position of the umbrella was secure and the shape of the umbrella was satisfactory. No blood shunt or pericardial effusion was found at 6-month and 1-year follow-up. The heart structure and heart rhythm were improved, the atrioventricular valve function was normal, the blocking umbrella was firm and stable, and there was no shedding or displacement. ConclusionThe percutaneous PFO occlusion guided by TEE is safe and effective, and has fewer side effects on patients compared with traditional interventional methods, but the complex PFO occlusion surgery is still challenging.
目的总结左胸骨旁小切口微创封堵分流方向偏向流出道的室间隔缺损（VSD）的初步经验。 方法2014年2～8月广州医科大学附属第一医院对15例分流方向偏向流出道的VSD患者施行左胸骨旁小切口微创封堵手术，其中男7例，女8例；年龄10个月～19岁（4.5±4.6）岁；体重5.5～54.0（14.6±14.1）kg；其中干下型6例，嵴内型6例，膜周部型3例；缺损直径2.5～6.5（4.0±1.2）mm，距主动脉瓣环距离≤1 mm 9例，≤2 mm4例，>2 mm 2例；合并主动脉瓣右冠瓣轻度脱垂5例；采用左胸骨旁第2或第3肋间1.5～2.5 cm切口，在经食管超声心动图（TEE）监视下在右心室流出道表面选择适当的穿刺点，建立VSD输送轨道并置入封堵器，观察有无残余分流、主动脉瓣反流；术后3个月复查经胸超声心动图。 结果15例均成功封堵，无中转开胸，无残余分流和心律失常，新发主动脉瓣轻微反流2例，围手术期输血1例；手术时间30～120（58±28）min，术中出血量5～200（26±50）ml；术后住院时间3～13（4.3±2.6）d，无二次开胸止血、Ⅲ°房室传导阻滞、主动脉瓣反流加重、溶血、切口感染等并发症；术后3个月返院复查经胸超声心动图13例，无新发主动脉瓣反流和封堵器脱落；2例术中新发主动脉瓣反流加重，其中1例出现残余分流。 结论左胸骨旁小切口封堵分流方向偏向流出道VSD 手术安全、切口小、操作简单，近期效果尚满意；对合并主动脉瓣轻度脱垂VSD 需慎重施行外科微创封堵手术。
ObjectiveTo share the experience of treating special cardiac malformations by applying minimally invasive techniques.MethodsEight children with special cardiac malformations admitted to our hospital from July 2014 to September 2020 were recruited, including 3 males and 5 females, aged 0.8-1.2 (1.1±0.4) years, and weighted 7.8-11.5 (9.6±2.9) kg. There were 2 patients of huge muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD), 3 perimembranous cribriform VSD, 1 right coronary-right atrial fistula, 1 right coronary-right ventricular fistula, and 1 young, low-weight child with large aortopulmonary. All were treated with minimally invasive techniques using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as a guiding tool. All children received intraoperative TEE immediately to evaluate the curative effect of the surgery, and all went to outpatient clinic for reexamination of echocardiography, electrocardiogram and chest X-ray after discharge.ResultsEight children underwent minimally invasive surgery successfully without any incision infection, intracardiac infection, arrhythmia or pericardial effusion. None of the 8 children were lost to follow-up, and the results of all reexaminations were satisfactory.ConclusionThe application of minimally invasive techniques is a bold and innovative attempt for the treatment of a few special types of cardiac malformations. It has significant advantages in reducing trauma and medical costs in some suitable patients, and has certain clinical reference values.
Aortic stenosis accounts for a large proportion of valvular heart disease in China. This article described an unusual case of severe aortic stenosis with severe cardiopulmonary decompensation treated by emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Preoperative assessment was performed by transesophageal echocardiography. The extracorporeal membrane oxygenation team was informed to be ready. During the operation, no obvious perivalve leakage was observed after valve released. The transvalvular pressure gradient decreased to 7 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa).The patient’s symptoms were completely relieved after the operation, and no adverse events occurred during the hospitalization. After discharge, color Doppler echocardiography showed that stenosis was eliminated, cardiac function was improved, no significant perivalvular leakage was observed, and pulmonary hypertension reduced to moderate. The success of this operation confirmed the efficacy of emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and showed that after a rigorous evaluation, emergency transcatheter aortic valve replacement may be a reasonable choice for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.
Echocardiography is an important imaging technique in mithal valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER). During the operation, mitral leaflets capture and clamping have the highest requirements for ultrasound image quality and should be performed under the guidance of high-quality commissural view. However, standard commissural view cannot be obtained in some patients due to cardiac enlargement, transposition or limited esophageal acoustic window. In this condition, the optimal view can be obtained by Multivue technology. This paper reports a male patient aged 67 years with successful mitral valve TEER under the real-time guidance of Multivue technology, and summarizes the key points of this technology.