Srinath T. Gowda

Remodeling and Thrombosis Following Closure of Coronary Artery Fistula With Review of Management: Large Distal Coronary Artery Fistula—To Close or Not to Close?

To evaluate postdiscovery outcome of coronary artery fistulae (CAF). CAF treatment sequelae and risk factors for coronary thrombosis have not been adequately evaluated.

Catheterization-Based Intervention in Low Birth Weight Infants Less than 2.5 kg with Acute and Long-Term Outcome

The number of low birth weight infants with congenital heart disease is increasing and catheterizations may have an increased risk for mortality and morbidity.

Retrieval of endobronchial foreign bodies in children: involving the cardiac catheterization lab.

Endobronchial foreign body impaction is a common occurrence, especially in the pediatric population. Bronchoscopic techniques are the standard of care for their retrieval. However, the most distally located foreign bodies are often difficult to retrieve using these techniques. A novel approach using biplane fluoroscopy, with tools usually used for intravascular foreign body retrieval, has been recently described in adults by interventional radiologists. We are the first to report 2 cases in children using this approach for distally impacted endobronchial foreign body retrieval in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. We used a collaborative approach, using flexible bronchoscopy and fluoroscopically guided catheters to reach the foreign body. The first case involved a 16-year-old girl who presented with a 4-day history of aspiration of a staple pin, which we successfully retrieved. The second case involved a 10-year-old boy who presented with a 2-month history of aspiration of the plastic eraser cap of a mechanical pencil. We were successful in reaching the distal lobule where it was lodged. However, we were unable to grasp the foreign body because of the presence of a chronic inflammatory exudate around it owing to the subacute to chronic presentation. There were no complications in either case. Thus, a collaboration of the pulmonology and interventional cardiology teams in the cardiac catheterization laboratory represents a safe and effective alternative to bronchoscopy in the management of distally placed endobronchial foreign bodies in children. Early recognition and intervention is imperative for the successful retrieval of an endobronchial foreign body.

Left Ventricular Systolic Dyssynchrony in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

BACKGROUNDnEchocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony in pediatric patients with heart failure (HF) have not been adequately evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate LV systolic dyssynchrony in pediatric patients with HF and normal children.nnnMETHODSnAmong a total of 68 patients, 22 had HF and 46 were normal. Doppler tissue imaging, M-mode echocardiography, and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography were performed. Intraventricular dyssynchrony using the maximal difference in time to peak myocardial systolic contraction (Ts), the standard deviation of Ts of 12 LV segments, septal-to-posterior wall motion delay, and interventricular dyssynchrony by measuring aortic and pulmonary pre-ejection delays were obtained.nnnRESULTSnThe maximal difference in Ts (patients with HF, 91.27 ± 31.18 msec; controls, 45.93 ± 21.29 msec; P < .001), the standard deviation of Ts (patients with HF, 31.05 ± 10.68 msec; controls, 15.60 ± 7.70 msec; P < .001), septal-to-posterior wall motion delay (patients with HF, 117.14 ± 45.18 msec; controls, 48.69 ± 16.63 msec; P < .001) and interventricular dyssynchrony (patients with HF, 21.60 ± 16.27 msec; controls, 11.56 ± 9.38 msec; P = .03) were significantly prolonged in the HF group. Defining systolic dyssynchrony as a standard deviation of Ts > 31 msec (+2 standard deviations of normal controls) and a maximal difference in Ts > 89 msec in normal controls and 18 patients with HF due to dilated cardiomyopathy was included for analysis of systolic dyssynchrony; it was present in three (6.5%) and two (4.3%) controls and in nine (50%) and 10 (55%) patients with HF due to dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively. Low ejection fraction, elevated LV end-diastolic volume, and elevated LV end-systolic volume had significant correlations with systolic dyssynchrony. QRS duration was not significantly correlated with measures of dyssynchrony.nnnCONCLUSIONSnSystolic mechanical dyssynchrony is common in pediatric patients with HF. QRS duration is not a determinant of systolic dyssynchrony in pediatric patients. Echocardiographic measurements of systolic dyssynchrony are feasible in pediatric patients.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Coronary Artery Fistula: A Case Report and Review of Literature

We report an antenatally diagnosed large distal coronary artery fistula (CAF) arising from an aneurysmal dilation right coronary artery (RCA) and draining in to the right ventricle (RV) just below the septal leaflet of tricuspid valve posteriorly. A postnatal echocardiogram confirmed the diagnosis. On the second day of life, a percutaneous partial closure of the fistula was performed by placing a Flipper coil (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) in the RCA just proximal to the drainage site in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Follow-up echocardiogram on the day following the procedure showed improved forward flow in the descending aorta with decreased RV size. Our case report suggests that antenatal diagnosis of a CAF may aid in early intervention. Partial closure of the fistula in the cardiac catheterization laboratory is safe and effective.

Coil Embolization of Pulmonary Arteries as a Palliative Treatment of Diffuse Type I Hepatopulmonary Syndrome

Hepatopulmonary syndrome is a serious complication of liver disease. Type I hepatopulmonary syndrome is associated with diffuse dilatation of the pulmonary vasculature, leading to severe hypoxemia. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for this condition. There are limited options for those who are not candidates for liver transplantation. We present the case of a patient who presented with severe hypoxemia requiring FIO2 of 0.95 with PaO2 of 59 mm Hg. Workup revealed 33% intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt. A pulmonary angiogram showed diffuse dilatation of the pulmonary arteries, especially in the lower lobes. The patient was diagnosed with type I hepatopulmonary syndrome. He was not a candidate for liver transplantation. The patient underwent sequential coil embolizations of the lower lobe pulmonary arteries. He was discharged home on 2 L of supplemental oxygen. This case demonstrates that coil embolization of dilated pulmonary arteries is a potential palliative treatment for patients with diffuse type I hepatopulmonary syndrome.

A novel balloon assisted two‐stents telescoping technique for repositioning an embolized stent in the pulmonary conduit

A 9‐year‐old male, with history of pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect, status post complete repair with a 16 mm pulmonary homograft in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) underwent 3110 Palmaz stent placement for conduit stenosis. Following deployment the stent embolized proximally into the right ventricle (RV). We undertook the choice of repositioning the embolized stent into the conduit with a transcatheter approach. Using a second venous access, the embolized stent was carefully maneuvered into the proximal part of conduit with an inflated Tyshak balloon catheter. A second Palmaz 4010 stent was deployed in the distal conduit telescoping through the embolized stent. The Tyshak balloon catheter was kept inflated in the RV to stabilize the embolized stent in the proximal conduit until it was successfully latched up against the conduit with the deployment of the overlapping second stent. One year later, he underwent Melody valve implantation in the pre‐stented conduit relieving conduit insufficiency. This novel balloon assisted two‐stents telescoping technique is a feasible transcatheter option to secure an embolized stent from the RV to the RVOT.

Arterial Angioplasty in Congential Heart Disease

This chapter will describe the historical background, technical issues, outcomes, and future considerations of angioplasty to treat various congenital heart lesions in both the systemic and pulmonary arteries. Intravascular stent placement will be mentioned briefly, but the primary focus will be balloon angioplasty of arterial stenosis. Peripheral stenoses secondary to acquired arterial lesions will not be discussed.