Fully percutaneous transthoracic left atrial entry and closure as a potential access route for transcatheter mitral valve interventions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Percutaneous access for mitral interventions is currently limited to transapical and transseptal routes, both of which have shortcomings. We hypothesized that the left atrium could be accessed directly through the posterior chest wall under imaging guidance.

Methods and results

We tested percutaneous transthoracic left atrial access in 12 animals (10 pigs and 2 sheep) under real-time magnetic resonance imaging or x-ray fluoroscopy plus C-arm computed tomographic guidance. The pleural space was insufflated with CO2 to displace the lung, an 18F sheath was delivered to the left atrium, and the left atrial port was closed using an off-the-shelf nitinol cardiac occluder. Animals were survived for a minimum of 7 days. The left atrial was accessed, and the port was close

SUBMITTER: Rogers T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4537529 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature