title: Implantation of stents to ensure an adequate interatrial communication in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of interatrial stenting for left atrial decompression in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome treated by a "hybrid-approach", with bilateral surgical banding of the pulmonary arteries and percutaneous stenting of the arterial duct.
  
  
  METHODS
  We stented the atrial septum in 5 infants aged from 21 to 77 days, making the intervention as an elective procedure in 4, but as a rescue procedure in the fifth patient, who had a restrictive foramen. The stents, comprising 2 Jo-stents of 17 millimetres hand-crimped on a balloon catheter with dimensions of 10 by 20 millimetres, and 3 premounted Genesis stents with dimensions of 10 by 19 millimetres, were placed using a 6 French long or short sheath by femoral venous access. The stents were expanded under fluoroscopic guidance to create a slightly diabolo-shaped form that fitted the septum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percutaneous interventions were successfully performed in all cases, producing significant improvement in clinical condition after placement. The saturations of oxygen increased from an average of 64% plus or minus 18% to 88% plus or minus 7%, (p < 0.05). During a mean follow up of 2.5 months, without any anticoagulant therapy, there were no complications related to the stenting. Surgical removal of the stents was uneventful during reconstruction of the aortic arch and creation of a bidirectional cavopulmonary connection in 4 patients, and during cardiac transplantation in one.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the context of the hybrid approach, definitive decompression of the left atrium can be achieved by stenting the atrial septum in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Placement of the stents is safe and effective, with insertion in the form of a diabolo reducing the risk of dislocation, as well as embolisation of the stent.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Heart Centre, University Clinic Giessen-Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michel-Behnke
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valeske
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akintürk
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schranz
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006346:Heart Septum; D006801:Humans; D018636:Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen