Article Text
Abstract
Objective To investigate the safety, efficacy, and clinical application of a new self centring device (“angel wings”) for closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD II) and persistent foramen ovale in all age groups.
Design Multicentre, prospective, non-randomised study.
Patients Inclusion criteria: defects with an occlusive diameter of ⩽ 20 mm and a surrounding rim of > 4 mm; body weight > 10 kg; and an indication for surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect. Additionally, there were compassionate indications for closure in patients with persistent foramen ovale.
Interventions Defects were closed by a transcatheter device consisting of two square frames made of superelastic nitinol wire. The frames are covered by elastic polyester fabric, which is sewn together at a central circle. All procedures, except for three interventions that were carried out under sedation, were performed under general anaesthesia using transoesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy to monitor intervention.
Results Closure was attempted in 75 (71%) of 105 patients. An ASD II was present in 35 children and 15 adults. A persistent foramen ovale was present in 25 adults with suspected paradoxical embolism. Transcatheter closure was unsuccessful in three children and crossover to surgery was required. Residual shunts were found in 20 patients (27%) immediately after the procedure. A transient atrioventricular third degree block occurred in three patients (4%) and the right atrial disk was not fully deployed in three. A minor shunt (< 3 mm) was present in only three (4%) of 72 patients during follow up of 1–17 months. Blood clots on the right atrial disks in two patients (one required lysis) were seen during follow up transoesophageal echocardiography. Serious complications demanding surgical removal of the device occurred in three patients. One patient had haemopericardial tamponade because of an aortic lesion. Left atrial thrombus formation due to an unfolded right atrial disk was found in a second patient and dislodgement of the left atrial disk resulted in a large residual shunt in a third.
Conclusions Percutaneous closure of a central ASD with a diameter ⩽ 20 mm in paediatric and adult patients is feasible and effective with this new device. It is a promising alternative to surgical closure. Modifications of the design, however, seem to be mandatory as 4% of patients developed serious complications.
- secundum atrial septal defect
- persistent foramen ovale
- interventional cardiology
- transcatheter occlusion
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- secundum atrial septal defect
- persistent foramen ovale
- interventional cardiology
- transcatheter occlusion
Occlusion of a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) using a transcatheter double disk device was first reported by King and Mills in 1976.1 The large catheter size (23 F) limited its applicability in small children. In 1983 Rashkind2 ,3described a single umbrella device (15 F) that relied on “fish hooks” to ensure attachment to the left side of the atrial septum and was therefore often poorly centred. In the following two decades other double disk devices4-6 were investigated for transvenous closure of ASD or patent foramen ovale.7 None of these devices was approved for routine clinical use because of several drawbacks such as persisting residual leakage,5 ,8 high failure rate,7 wire fracture,9 ,10 and embolisation of the device.11 A novel self centring double disk device (“angel wings”) was first introduced by Das et al.12 ,13 This device consists of two square frames made of superelastic nitinol wire (fig 1). Each square frame has eight eyelets, four corner eyelets, and four at the midpoint of each leg, functioning as torsion springs. The wire frames are covered with polyester tissue which is sewn together at a central circle, the diameter of which is approximately half the size of the disk. The device is loaded in a 12 or 13 F delivery catheter (fig 2) and is available in a range of sizes from 12 mm to 35 mm. The technique of transcatheter closure of ASD with the angel wings device has been described in detail.12 ,13 We now report the first clinical results and mid-term follow up data with this new self centring device in Germany.
Patients and methods
Patients with an interatrial communication were considered for percutaneous closure with the angel wings device if the procedure was clinically indicated because of a significant left to right shunt or after suspected paradoxical embolism. A total of 105 patients were studied: both paediatric (n = 66) and adult (n = 39). Patients fulfilled the following inclusion criteria. (1) Central defects within the fossa ovalis (secundum ASDs and patent foramen ovale) were less than 20 mm (occlusive diameter) at a distance of at least 4 mm from the coronary sinus, atrioventricular valves, and pulmonary veins. (2) Dilatation of the right ventricle and paradoxical motion of interventricular septum were evidence for right ventricular volume overload as seen on echocardiography. (3) The ratio of pulmonary blood flow to systemic blood flow (Qp:Qs) was 1.5:1 or greater. (4) A left heart or carotid artery source was not present in patients with suspected paradoxical embolism (embolic stroke, transient focal neurological deficit, or peripheral arterial embolism), and each had an interatrial communication with intermittent or continuous right to left shunting as seen on contrast echocardiography. Complete neurological evaluation was normal, and migraine and seizures were excluded. (5) Patients with significant residual shunts after a fenestrated Fontan operation.
Exclusion criteria were: interatrial communication other than fossa ovalis defect; abnormal pulmonary venous drainage; associated congenital abnormality requiring cardiac surgery; severe pulmonary arterial hypertension with bidirectional or right to left shunting; the presence of sepsis or malignancy in patients in whom life expectancy was less than three years; intracardiac thrombi as seen on echocardiography; history of severe allergy to iodinated contrast agents; and body weight of less than 10 kg.
Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were offered the option of transvenous angel wings closure or surgical closure. Devices were implanted according to research protocols approved by the American Food and Drug Administration. Informed consent was obtained using forms approved by the ethics committees of the involved centres.
CARDIAC CATHETERISATION AND CLOSURE TECHNIQUE
Routine diagnostic cardiac catheterisation was used to determine the haemodynamic significance of an ASD. Systemic pressure was monitored from a femoral arterial access. General anaesthesia and continuous transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) supervision for optimal results were performed in almost all patients. Three procedures were performed under sedation. “Balloon sizing” with contrast filled balloons (diluted with saline 1:4) was used to test occlusion of atrial defects.14 ,15 The balloon volume was gradually decreased to a minimum diameter that could not be pulled across the defect from left to right and vice versa. This diameter represents the balloon occlusive diameter. The appropriate size of the device was determined by multiplying the occlusive diameter by 1.5. Thereafter a suitable sized Mullin’s sheath (Cook, New Jersey, USA) was positioned in the mid-left atrium. Mullin’s sheath was continuously flushed with isotonic saline to prevent air embolism. The left atrial disk was deployed by clockwise torquing of the blue actuator ring (fig 2). The right atrial disk was deployed after withdrawal of the fully opened left atrial disk against the interatrial septum. The correct position of the device was ensured by TOE (fig 4) and fluoroscopy. The device was released by torquing the red release knob of the control handle in a counter-clockwise direction and pulling back.
PATIENT MANAGEMENT AND FOLLOW UP
Patients were fully heparinised (100 units/kg) to achieve an activated clotting time of about 300 seconds at the beginning of the procedure: each received antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients were discharged one to three days after closure. Acetylsalicylic acid (2–3 mg/kg/day) was prescribed for six months. Colour flow Doppler echocardiography, standard ECG, and chest radiography were performed before discharge and three months after clinical investigation. TOE was undertaken between three and six months after the procedure.
Results
A total of 105 patients were considered for transcatheter closure of ASD or persistent foramen ovale. Closure was not attempted in 30 patients: multiple lesions were present in six and the occlusive diameter of the balloon was either more than 20 mm or too large in relation to the atrial septum in 24. Device closure was attempted in the remaining 75 patients (71%). An ASD II was present in 35 children (mean (SD) age 7.8 (4.0) years (range 4.3–16), mean (SD) weight 26 (12) kg (range 13–48), mean (SD) balloon occlusive diameter 13 (3) mm (range 10–20)) and 15 adults (age 50 (11) years (range 17–72), weight 79 (16) kg (range 56–110), balloon occlusive diameter 16 (4) mm (range 15–20)) (table 1). The Qp:Qs ratio ranged from 1.5:1 to 2.9:1 in the children and from 1.5:1 to 2.7:1 in the adults. Anomalous drainage of pulmonary veins and pulmonary hypertension were not present. A patent foramen ovale was present in 25 adults (age 44 (13) years, weight 75 (12) kg) with suspected paradoxical embolism.
Successful transcatheter occlusion of the defect (fig 3) was performed in 72 patients (96%) using devices with a diameter of between 18 mm and 30 mm. The closure rate for persistent foramen ovale was 100%. The preferred device size was 22 mm for paediatric patients; 30 mm devices were used mostly for adults; 18 mm and 22 mm sizes were chosen for closure of persistent foramen ovale (fig 5). Transcatheter closure was unsuccessful in three children (4%): the left atrial disk pulled into the right atrium in two and the left atrial disk straddled a multifenestrated ASD in the third. As repositioning was unsuccessful and retrieval was not attempted, the device was surgically removed and the ASD closed. All patients recovered from operation without complications. Residual shunts were found in 20 patients (27%) immediately after the procedure. A transient atrioventricular third degree block not requiring temporary pacing occurred in three patients (4%) and full deployment of the right atrial disk failed but without sequelae was found in three (4%). The fluoroscopy time was 22.5 (7.3) minutes (range 10.2–42.4 minutes).
A minor shunt (< 3 mm) was still present in three of 72 patients during follow up (1–17 months). Blood clots on the atrial disks in two adult patients after closure of a patent foramen ovale were seen during follow up TOE two and six weeks after device placement. Coumarin was given to the first patient with a thrombus on the right atrial disk. Systemic lysis was started in the second patient who had thrombi on the right and left atrial disks. Cerebral nuclear magnetic imaging and lung scintigraphy showed no abnormality. Coumarin was started for six months after successful lysis. The device had to be surgically removed from three patients. One patient had haemopericardial tamponade four months after closure of ASD. The anterosuperior corner of the device had perforated the aortic root. The ASD and aortic lesion were surgically repaired. A thrombus in the left atrium and right inferior pulmonary vein was seen during routine follow up TOE in a second patient in whom the right atrial disk had failed to completely open. This clot was detected six months postprocedure. Routine TOE showed a displaced left atrial disk and a large residual shunt nine months after closure of an ASD in a third patient. All patients recovered from operation and suffered no other adverse sequelae.
Discussion
In this initial German series atrial septal defects and persistent foramen ovale were closed in 72 (96%) of 75 patients with the new self centring angel wings occluder. The rate of complete closure assessed by TOE was 92%, and residual minor shunting was present in only three patients (4%) at follow up. Retrieval of the device was not attempted in the three patients with failed procedures and each underwent surgical repair. Percutaneous retrieval of the device is clearly difficult and a limiting factor. Retrieval in animal models was reported by Das et al,12 but it was not attempted because of the potential risk of perforation.
Major adverse events requiring surgical removal of the device were observed in three patients (4%). A 16 year old girl (ASD II, 52 kg) presented with haemopericardial tamponade four months after device implantation. One of the edges of the device had perforated the aorta. The device (30 mm) was thought to be too large in relation to the transverse diameter of the atrium, thus giving rise to atrial perforation. A thrombus in the left atrium and the right inferior pulmonary vein was seen during TOE six months postprocedure in a second patient in whom the right atrial disk was not fully deployed. Intraoperatively, the left atrial disk showed a slight deformity that favoured thrombus formation. The unusual form of the left atrial disk was thought to be caused by the right atrial disk, which failed to completely open. Displacement of the left atrial disk in a third patient, an eight year old girl (ASD II, 30 kg), resulted in a large residual shunt nine months after closure of an ASD. The device (22 mm) was removed for fear of perforation. Intraoperative examination showed that the upper left posterior corner was deflected and not attached to the septum.
Injury from the stiff wire framework is the primary concern with this device, although similar complications in more than 270 patients in whom the device was implanted have not been reported. Design modifications—for example, converting the eyelets to the inside of the device, however, are under consideration. It seems mandatory that the selected device has a smaller diagonal diameter than the interatrial septum, to avoid injury of adjacent structures. Thus, careful TOE imaging of the implanted device is required during the procedure.8 ,16
The angel wings device was designed to avoid many of the limitations of previous devices, such as persistent leakage due to poor centring and a high failure rate because of complex multistep placement. Four devices are undergoing evaluation: the “clamshell” device, the “buttoned” device, the Amplatzer septal occluder, and the atrial septal defect occluder system device. Some have potential disadvantages and certain risks. Limitations of the clamshell device5 ,17 include persistent residual shunts in as many as 26% of patients and wire fractures in up to 33%. Recapturing and repositioning are not possible when the umbrellas have unfolded. Carminati et al reported preliminary experience in five patients with a redesigned clamshell device (CardioSEAL).18 Drawbacks of the buttoned device6 ,7 ,19 are a high failure rate (21%) (“unbuttoning” 7%), device embolisation, difficult repositioning, and residual shunts (39%). The atrial septal defect occluder system (ASDOS) device enables positioning of the device within the defect using a guidewire loop which requires simultaneous arterial and venous puncture. The right and left atrial disks are screwed together at a central hub. Transient atrioventricular conduction abnormalities during the procedure have been described.20 Procedural success rates for closure of ASD II is between 86% in adults21and 90% in paediatric patients.20 Residual shunts were seen in 42% of patients at six months’ follow up. The diameter of these three devices must be between 2 and 2.5-fold larger than the diameter of the septal defect, to avoid residual shunting. The angel wings device requires a diameter only 1.5 times larger than the defect because of its self centring mechanism. Sharafuddin and colleagues16 ,22 described the first experimental closure of ASD in dogs also with a new self centring device (Amplatzer septal occluder) made with braided nitinol wire. Chan et alreported promising preliminary experience with this device in 22 children.23
The gold standard for closure of ASD is open heart surgery with mortality close to zero.24-28 The incidence of significant complications,29 such as pneumothorax, postoperative bleeding, pleural effusion requiring chest tube drainage, pericardial effusion, infection, and atrial arrhythmias, varies from 2.5%29 to 13%.24 Residual shunts at follow up are rare, but their incidence can be as high as 7.8% to 16.7%.26 ,30 ,31 Mild complications (atelectasis, gastrointestinal, urinary tract infection, pleural effusion) have been reported29 in 72.9% of paediatric patients and in 67.5% of adults. Gala et al reported the results of perioperative complications following surgical closure of ASD II in 232 patients.29 They showed that an isolated secundum ASD can be closed safely with minimal mortality but a certain rate of complications has to be accepted, predominantly in adults.
It can be concluded from our mid-term follow up data that this new device seems to be a promising transcatheter technique for occlusion of secundum ASDs in children and adults. Closure of persistent foramen ovale is possible with an excellent success rate (100%). No residual shunting was seen but a major adverse event occurred in one patient (4%). Blood clots on the atrial disks were seen in two patients (8%). Patients with a history of paradoxical embolisation may be more prone to clotting in the absence of a demonstrable clotting abnormality. Coumarin may be indicated until endothelialisaton occurs.
This first device with a self centring mechanism leads to complete occlusion of a central atrial defect in almost all patients. Modification of the design, however, is mandatory, as 4% of patients developed serious complications. Additionally, a retrieval mechanism needs to be developed. Further randomised clinical trials comparing device closure with surgical closure, as well as long term data, are required.
Acknowledgments
The first implantations in Germany were supervised by A M Mendelsohn, Childrens Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, M P O’ Laughlin, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and A P Salmon, General Hospital, Southampton, UK.