Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has entered a new and critical stage after nearly 20 years of rapid development in China. There are various types of TAVR valves with different advantages. TAVR can be performed through various approaches such as transfemoral artery, transapical, trans-carotid artery, or trans-ascending aorta. The first two are more common. Echocardiography plays an important role in the perioperative period of TAVR. Compared to transfemoral approach, transapical TAVR has different key points in perioperative echocardiography which is lack of unified and accurate standards. This standard is specially formulated to focus on the key points of echocardiography in preoperative screening, intraoperative monitoring and postoperative follow-up in order to promote the safe and effective application of transapical TAVR in the clinic.
Objective To explore the feasibility of transcatheter closure of congenital heart disease (CHD) under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Methods A total of 37 patients with CHD who received transcatheter closure under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography from November 2013 through November 2015 in our hospital were recruited. There were 15 males and 22 females, aged 1 to 16 years. Among them 32 patients suffered atrial septal defect and 5 patients had patent ductus arteriosus. The transcatheter closure of CHD was performed under the guidance of TTE. The patients underwent echocardiography follow-up at one, three and six months after surgery. Results Closure devices were successfully implanted in 37 patients under TTE guidance. The procedure was simple and safe. During the follow-up, no severe complication such as valvular injury, pericardial effusion, residual shunt and peripheral vascular injury occurred. Conclusion Transcatheter closure of CHD under TTE guidance is a feasible method and worth further clinical application.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).MethodsFrom February 2016 to November 2018, 98 patients of pure PDA were selected, including 43 patients of funnel type and 55 patients of tube type. There were 38 males and 60 females at age of 2-48 (9.8±10.4) years. All patients underwent TTE-guided retrograde closure of the PDA through the femoral artery to establish a femoral-abdominal aorta-thoracic aorta-ductus arteriosus-aorta-right ventricle trajectory.Under the guidance of TTE, a suitable closure umbrella was placed through the femoral artery. One month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months after the surgery, the patients received out-patient clinical follow-up.ResultsNinety eight patients were successfully occluded by TTE. The occluder was replaced many times in an adult PDA patient, but finally it was successfully plugged. The operation time was 33.2±5.8 min. The lumbar diameter was 12±6 mm. And the postoperative murmur disappeared. Ultrasound showed no shunt between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, and the postoperative hospital stay was 3-4 days. No shunt signal was found in 1, 3, 6, 12 months follow-up. Left atrial anteroposterior diameter (25.8±6.1 mm vs. 30.6±8.4 mm) and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (38.5±9.1 mm vs. 45.2±11.5 mm) were significantly smaller (P < 0.05).ConclusionTTE-guided transcatheter closure of PDA via femoral artery is a safe and effective method to avoid the damage of X-ray and contrast medium. The prospect of clinical application is good.
Objective To analyze risk factors for pulmonary vein obstruction (PVO) after intracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) repair. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data of the patients with intracardiac TAPVC who underwent surgery at our center from April 2009 to April 2019 was conducted. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the risk of postoperative PVO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify relevant risk factor for postoperative PVO. ResultsWe finally included 169 patients. The median age at surgery was 89.0 (41.5, 195.0) days, and the median weight at surgery was 4.8 (3.8, 6.0) kg. The preoperative PVO rate was 18.3% (31/169). Post-repair PVO occurred in 8.9% (15/169) of the patients. The atresia of common pulmonary and subtype of coronary sinus/right atrium did not significantly affect the risk of PVO (P=0.053, P=0.330). Relevant risk factors included preoperative PVO (P<0.001) and the ratio of left ventricular end-systolic diameter to right ventricular diameter (P=0.025). ConclusionSurgical repair of intracardiac TAPVC has achieved satisfactory results in our center, but the long-term risk of obstruction should not be underestimated. An increased ratio of left ventricular end-systolic diameter to right ventricular diameter and preoperative PVO are associated with post-repair PVO.
The main purpose of this study is to observe and analyze the characteristics and the clinical significance of long-term echocardiogram data in patients after mechanical aortic valve replacement operation. Fifty-five cases were recruited over 5 years after mechanical aortic valve replacement operation, with complete echocardiogram examination profiles. The 55 subjects were divided into predominate aortic stenosis group and predominate aortic regurgitation group, based on preoperative examinations. And another way of division was also carried out that according to the effective orifice area index (EOAI), the subjects were divided into three groups, i.e., severe prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) group, moderate PPM group, and non PPM group. Characteristics of long-term echocardiogram data of the subjects were analyzed. Patients with aortic stenosis showed significantly decreased thickness of intraventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall about half a year after operation (P<0.05). Half a year after operation, patients with aortic regurgitation showed decreased left ventricular internal dimension diastole and left ventricular internal dimension systole, and increased ejection fraction (P<0.05). Differences in mean aortic valve pressure gradient, forward blood flow across the aortic valves, and ejection fraction were not significant among those with severe PPM, moderate PPM, and non PPM groups (P>0.05). Number of cases of ascending aorta dimension increased as time goes on and pathogenesis of other valve diseases. A conclusion could be drawn that the heart function of patients with aortic valve disease could be improved after mechanical aortic valve replacement operation, but pathologies in other valves and ascending aorta might be increased, and therefore periodical postoperative echocardiogram evaluation with long tem pharmaceutical therapy could be necessary.
Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance for patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted to include pregnant women who were diagnosed with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance in Fuwai Hospital from August 2018 to June 2022, and their baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, echocardiographic results, and follow-up results were analyzed. Results A total of 3 pregnant women aged 30-35 years, with gestational age of 19-26 weeks, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class Ⅲ were included. All the procedures were successfully performed. The mitral valve orifice area increased from 0.9 cm2 preoperatively to 2.1 cm2 postoperatively. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient decreased from 15.0 mm Hg preoperatively to 6.7 mm Hg postoperatively. No perioperative adverse events occurred. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 48 months. All patients delivered uneventfully and returned to normal life, with maternal-fetal safety. Conclusion Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis in pregnancy, with satisfactory maternal-fetal outcomes.
The aim of this study is to analyze the concordance between EDV, ESV and LVEF values derived from 18F-FDG PET, GSPECT and ECHO in patients with myocardial infarction. Sixty-four patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction were enrolled in the study.. Each patient underwent at least two of the above mentioned studies within 2 weeks. LVEF、 EDV and ESV values were analyzed with dedicated software. Statistical evaluation of correlation and agreement was carried out EDV was overestimated by 18F-FDG PET compared with GSPECT [(137.98±61.71) mL and (125.35±59.34) mL]; ESV was overestimated by 18F-FDG PET (85.89±55.21) mL and GSPECT (82.39±55.56) mL compared with ECHO (68.22±41.37) mL; EF was overestimated by 18F-FDG PET (41.96%±15.08%) and ECHO (52.18%±13.87%) compared with GSPECT (39.75%±15.64%), and EF was also overestimated by 18F-FDG PET compared with GSPECT. The results of linear regression analysis showed good correlation between EDV, ESV and LVEF values derived from 18F-FDG PET, GSPECT and ECHO (r=0.643-0.873, P=0.000). Bland-Altman analysis indicated that 18F-FDG PET correlated well with ECHO in the Left ventricular function parameters. While GSPECT correlated well with 18F-FDG PET in ESV, GSPECT had good correlation with Echo in respect of EDV and EF; whereas GSPECT had poor correlation with PET/ECHO in the remaining left ventricular function parameters. Therefore, the clinical physicians should decide whether they would use the method according to the patients' situation and diagnostic requirements.
Conventional transcatheter aortic valve replacement is normally recommended with transthoracic echocardiography, and contrast agent mediated fluoroscopy under anesthesia to guide a better implantation of the transcatheter valve. However, iodine-containing contrast agent possibly damages the patient’s kidney, and even induces the acute kidney injury. We reported a 75-year-old patient diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, moderate regurgitation, and chronic renal failure. We performed the aortic valve replacement under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal ultrasound without contrast agent. Seven days after surgery, the patient recovered well and discharged with alleviated aortic stenosis and fixed transcatheter aortic valve.
ObjectiveTo explore the safety and efficacy of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided percutaneous intervention for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in obese teenagers.MethodsFrom January 2018 to June 2019, 21 obese teenagers with PDA treated with femoral artery occlusion guided by TEE in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Dalian Children's Hospital of Dalian Medical University were included in this study, including 13 males and 8 females aged 12.8-17.3 (15.1±1.7) years, with an average weight of 51.0-89.0 (73.4±10.1) kg. The operative effect was evaluated. ResultsAll patients successfully received the surgery, and none was changed to radiation-guided or thoracotomy ligation. The average operating time was 23.9±6.8 min, the average postoperative hospitalization time was 3.8±0.6 d. No peripheral vascular injury, intracardiac infection or pericardial effusion occurred. The mean follow-up time was 19.5±4.9 months, and the results of all reexaminations were good.ConclusionFor some PDA children with obesity, emphysema or thoracic malformation, it is difficult to block PDA by transthoracic ultrasound-guided percutaneous intervention, and TEE can avoid the interference of chest wall and lung qi, or other factors. It is an effective supplementary guidance method worthy of promotion.
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.