title: Retrograde approach for device closure of muscular ventricular septal defects in children and adolescents, using the Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect occluder.
abstract: This study presents technique and initial experience of retrograde deployment of the Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect occluder (AmVSDo) for closure of muscular ventricular septal defects (VSDs). The conventional technique for closing muscular VSDs involves the creation of an arteriovenous guidewire circuit and use of a transvenous approach for device deployment. Seven patients aged 2.2-15 years underwent transcatheter closure of a muscular VSD using the retrograde approach without making the arteriovenous wire circuit. Mean fluoroscopy and procedural times were compared to those previously reported in publications describing the use of the antegrade approach. Unpaired Student's t-test was used to compare the two parameters in two groups. Our technique was successful in all patients reported. The mean fluoroscopy time in the retrograde versus the antegrade group was 33.8 +/- 20.9 and 41.9 +/- 6.2 minutes, respectively (not significant), and the mean procedural time in the two groups was 91.1 +/- 22.1 and 114 +/- 33.9 minutes respectively (p = 0.025). No complications were noted. We suggest that some muscular VSDs can be safely closed retrogradely without the use of an arteriovenous loop, thus reducing the radiation exposure and also the cost of the procedure. Further studies are needed to confirm this initial experience.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, Jeddah, MBC J-16, PB 40047, Jeddah, 21499, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Al-Ata
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jameel
authors.forename: Amin Muhammed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arfi
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: Kouatli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amjad
authors.forename: Galal Mohammed
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Omar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*