Role of three-dimensional imaging techniques in the management of transcatheter closure of complex atrial septal defects
Authors: Pastor- Wulf D , Rodriguez Almodovar A , Rodriguez Nieto J , Ruiz Ortiz M , Perea J , Delgado Ortega M , Piserra A , Esteban Martinez F , Lopez Baizan J , Ojeda Pineda S , Gallo I , Romero Moreno M , Suarez De Lezo J , Pan Alvarez Ossorio M , Mesa Rubio D 
Published: February 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia. Instituto de investigación biomédica Maimonides

Introduction

Percutaneous closure is nowadays considered the treatment of choice of ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) but complex defects may be a challenging. In the last years, the imaging techniques used for ASD assessment have improved considerably, allowing therapeutic approaches in patients with complex morphological features particularly in those with absence of rims. However, there are no studies about the impact of 3D imaging techniques on transcatheter closure of ASD as compared with 2D imaging along time .

Purpose

To compare the impact of real time 3D Transesophageal echocardiography (3D-RT TEE) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) on the profile as well as on the success rate of transcatheter closure of complex ASD as compared to 2D imaging.

Methods

We selected 106 adults patients suffering from ASD of complex anatomy (large≥30 mm, multiple, multifenestrated, aneurysmal, or deficiency of posterior or inferior rims) from 1998 to 2020. Along this time, we compared closure success rate, morphological characteristics, and procedure complications after ASD transcatheter closure. We defined closure success rate as a complete closure without complications. In our study, ASD assessment and further intervention was performed by two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) from 1998 to 2007 (n = 66), whereas 3D-RT TEE and CCT was performed from 2008 to 2020 (n= 40).

Results

The type of ASD complexity was different between the two diagnostic approaches. Thus, those patients management by 2D-TEE showed more number in large ASD (40,9%), multiple-ASD (34,8%), fenestrated (10,6%), aneurysmal (7,6%) and with lower ring deficiency (6,1%) as compared to those with 3D-RT TEE and CCT (10%, 25%, 15%, 15%, and 35%, respectively, p &lt; 0,05). Although no significant differences were observed, patients from the 2D group needed a second surgical closure more frequently than those treated with 3D-RT TEE and CCT (12,1% vs 5%, p = 0.31). In our study, there were few complications (10 (9,4%), with no significant differences according to the imaging technic used (2D-TEE group: 3 device embolisms, 2 cardiac tamponade, 2 complications of the femoral access; 3D-RT TEE and CCT group: 2 device embolisms and 1 complication of the femoral access. All of them were resolved intraprocedure. Importantly, closure success was higher in those patients manage by 3D-RT TEE and CCT in comparison to 2D-TEE (88% vs. 67%, respectively, p &lt;0.05).

Conclusion

Transcatheter closure of complex ASD is a secure procedure. However, the use of 3D TEE and cardiac CT improves the success rate of this approach as compared to 2D-TEE and changes the profile of complex ASD treated by transcatheter closure in favor of those with absence of some rims