Project description:BackgroundGore Cardioform Atrial Septal Defect Occluder (GCA) is composed of a platinum-filled nitinol wire frame covered with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). This makes the device highly occlusive and resistant to residual shunts through the device, as well as conforming well to the surrounding anatomy. In defects with poor rims to hold a device for closure or where one of the 'rims' is the free wall of the left ventricle, such as in a post-infarct apical ventricular septal defect (VSD), successful closure with standard nitinol mesh devices can be unachievable.Case summaryWe present the occlusion of a post-myocardial infarction VSD with a GCA device in a critically ill patient at risk for closure failure and intravascular haemolysis with conventional nitinol mesh devices. The device conformed well to the anatomy even in the absence of an apical interventricular septum.DiscussionGCA can be used for intracardiac high-velocity shunts in selected cases where conventional devices are unsuitable due to haemolysis or poor tissue and poor rims. With growing experience using GCA for the closure of atrial septal defects, interventionists should consider the potential advantages of ePTFE material and apply them to other lesions where these could be beneficial for patients.
Project description:BackgroundIsolated left ventricular apical hypoplasia (ILVAH) is a rare, probably congenital, cardiac condition recently reported in the last two decades. Although most cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, some severe and fatal cases have been reported, leading to more efforts for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. We describe the first, and severe, case of this pathology in Peru and Latin America.Case summaryA 24-year-old male with a history of long-standing alcohol and illicit drug use presented with symptoms of heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Transthoracic echocardiography showed biventricular dysfunction along with spherical left ventricle, abnormal papillary muscles' origin from the left ventricular apex, and an elongated right ventricle wrapping around the deficient left ventricular apex. Cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed these findings and revealed subepicardial fatty replacement at the left ventricular apex. The diagnosis of ILVAH was made. He was discharged from hospital with carvedilol, enalapril, digoxin, and warfarin. Eighteen months later he remains mildly symptomatic at New York Heart Association functional class II without worsening HF nor thrombo-embolism.DiscussionThis case highlights the usefulness of multimodality non-invasive cardiovascular imaging for accurate diagnosis of ILVAH as well as the importance of close follow-up and treatment of established complications (HF and AF).
Project description:Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The management of VSR is challenging, and its surgical correction is associated with the highest mortality among all cardiac surgery procedures. A 57-year-old man with a history of smoking presented with AMI with a large apical VSR in addition to a large secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). His left ventricular ejection fraction was 30%, and the right ventricle was moderately dilated with normal systolic function. Cardiac catheterization revealed that the left anterior descending artery was diffusely diseased with total mid occlusion, whereas other coronary arteries had non-obstructive disease. This unique combination resulted in distinctive presentation with paradoxically better outcomes. After stabilization, the patient's interventricular septum was reconstructed, and the ASD was closed with a pericardial patch. The post-operative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 1 week after surgery. A follow-up echocardiography revealed no residual shunt. Post-myocardial infarction VSR presents differently in patients with pre-existing right ventricular volume overload. In such cases, the absence of significant cardiogenic shock at presentation may result in better surgical outcomes.
Project description:BackgroundIsolated coronary sinus atrial septal defect (CSASD) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly, comprising <1% of atrial septal defects. Elderly patients with this anomaly are even more uncommon and sometimes overlooked.Case summaryA 73-year-old man with a history of electrical defibrillation therapy for atrial flutter presented with worsening exertional dyspnoea. Cardiac examination revealed CSASD without persistent left superior vena cava, showing only moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Surgical repair of the defect and regurgitant valve improved symptoms dramatically.DiscussionElderly patients with atrial arrhythmias might show uncommon presentations of congenital heart disease. Cardiologists should pay attention to enlarged right ventricle, pulmonary artery, and, in particular, enlarged coronary sinus. Direct closure with interrupted sutures secured with pledgets is effective in some case of terminal type of CSASD.
Project description:A 22-year-old male presented with recurrent stroke, central cyanosis, and dyspnea. Transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed bidirectional shunt flow through atrial septal defect (ASD) without pulmonary arterial hypertension. The orifice of inferior vena cava facing towards ASD opening led partially right to left shunt resulting in cyanosis with normal pulmonary arterial pressure.
Project description:Background Lipomatous atrial septal hypertrophy (LASH) with atrial septal defect (ASD) is a rare congenital anomaly. Although LASH is a histologically benign cardiac lesion characterized by excessive fat deposition in the interatrial septum that spares the fossa ovale, it has been associated with supraventricular arrhythmias or sick sinus syndrome. Application of multimodal imaging is crucial for accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment of LASH with ASD, and follow-up. Case summary A 68-year-old female patient presented with recurrent chest tightness and palpitation. Multimodal imaging revealed the characterizations of LASH and ASD. Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography showed a “dumbbell”-shaped involvement of the cephalad and caudal regions with sparing of a single secundum ASD. The septum with a brightness feature is an uncommon condition characterized by the deposition of unencapsulated fat cells in the atrial septum. Real-time four-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography reflected the lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum and an oval-shaped ASD. Cardiac computer tomography angiography later confirmed this finding. The patient achieved a good clinical response with an ASD percutaneous occlusion guided by intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Conclusion This case demonstrates a LASH combined with ASD. Multimodality imaging can provide an accurate diagnosis and may guide the procedure for precise occlusion.
Project description:Right-sided infective endocarditis (IE), which represents a small but not negligible percentage of IE cases, can be observed in patients with congenital heart diseases. We discuss the case of a young woman with unrepaired perimembranous ventricular septal defect and repeated episodes of right ventricle and tricuspid valve IE with septic embolism.
Project description:BackgroundAn aorto-caval fistula is a rare but critical complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture, leading to high-output heart failure and increased venous pressure. The anesthetic management of such cases, particularly when complicated by an intraoperative right-to-left shunt, is seldom reported.Case presentationA 71-year-old man with a history of atrial fibrillation and catheter ablation presented with heart failure and abdominal pain, leading to cardiac arrest. Imaging revealed an AAA rupture into the inferior vena cava. During emergency surgery, severe venous bleeding was managed using intra-aortic balloon occlusion (IABO). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) identified a right-to-left shunt due to an iatrogenic atrial septal defect.ConclusionEarly TEE recognition and timely IABO intervention were crucial in managing this complex case, underscoring the importance of these techniques in similar emergency scenarios.
Project description:BackgroundAtrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart disease. For this condition, surgical treatment can be required depending on the size and type of ASD. This study included a case of a patient who complained of persistent dyspnoea after the surgical treatment for ASD.Case summaryA 16-year-old girl who underwent a surgical patch closure for ASD at the age of 2 years presented to the emergency department and was diagnosed with acute stroke. Since childhood, she had suffered from exertional dyspnoea due to an unknown cause. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed normal chambers size and function and no signs of right heart strain. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) revealed a misplaced interatrial patch from the previous surgery, which allowed the whole blood to flow from the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the left atrium (LA), creating a large right-to-left shunt that resulted in stroke and heart failure. The patient underwent surgical treatment, and her symptoms improved significantly. Six months later, she was doing well without neurological complications and dyspnoea.DiscussionThis patient experienced stroke at the age of 16 years and had been suffering from heart failure since childhood. A large right-to-left shunt flow from the IVC to the LA by misplaced interatrial patch was found using TOE, right-sided heart catheterization, and inferior caval venography. This diagnosis should be considered in patients complaining of persistent dyspnoea with hypoxia after the surgical repair of ASD.