The short- and medium-term results of transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension

Heart Vessels. 2012 Nov;27(6):603-9. doi: 10.1007/s00380-011-0187-4. Epub 2011 Sep 17.

Abstract

We investigated the short-term and medium-term results in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with atrial septal defect (ASD) undergoing transcatheter closure. Fifteen patients with severe PAH associated with ASD who underwent successful occluder implantation from 2007 to 2010 were included. Clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data were reviewed. Severe PAH was defined as pulmonary arterial systolic pressure measured by catheterization was ≥60 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ≥6 Wood Units (WU). Compared with baseline, the 6-minwalking distance significantly increased by 29.7 ± 26.3 m (P < 0.001) at 3 months (short-term) and 65.4 ± 63.6 m (P < 0.001) at 23.4 ± 9.7 months (medium-term), World Health Organization function class considerably improved after postclosure short-term and medium-term. Repeat cardiac catheterization (n = 7) showed that mean pulmonary arterial pressure decreased from 51.6 ± 9.4 mmHg at baseline to 21.0 ± 3.8 mmHg (P < 0.001) at follow-up of 12 months. The PVR decreased by 5.6 ± 1.1 WU (P < 0.001). Through carefully selected patients with severe PAH associated with ASD, transcatheter closure can be safely performed with a promising short-term and medium-term outcome. Trial occlusion is an effective way for deciding the reversibility of severe PAH in ASD patients. The role of aerosolized iloprost for pulmonary vasoreactivity testing in patients with severe PAH secondary to ASD requires further investigation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adult
  • Aerosols
  • Aged
  • Arterial Pressure
  • Cardiac Catheterization / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Catheterization / instrumentation*
  • Catheterization, Swan-Ganz
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Exercise Test
  • Exercise Tolerance
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Female
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / complications
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / physiopathology
  • Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / etiology*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Iloprost / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Septal Occluder Device*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vascular Resistance
  • Walking
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Iloprost