Copyright © 2005, The European Society of Cardiology
Intracardiac echocardiography: an ideal guiding tool for device closure of interatrial communications
aCardiology Division, West-German Heart Center, University Clinic Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
bCardiology Division, Department of Paediatrics, University Duisburg, Essen, Germany
Received 12 December 2003; received in revised form 22 July 2004; accepted after revision 27 July 2004.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 201 723 4805; fax: +49 201 723 5401. thomas.bartel{at}uni-essen.de
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Abstract |
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Background This study sought to evaluate safety and radiation exposure when using intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in comparison to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in order to guide transcatheter closure of interatrial communications.
Methods Eighty patients (44 males, 36 females, mean age 46, SD 13 years) undergoing device closure of atrial septal defect (n=12) or patent foramen ovale (n=68) had the procedure guided by ICE (n=50, group 1) or TEE (n=30, group 2). In group 1, all procedural stages were completely guided by ICE, including imaging of the interatrial communication during balloon sizing, device unfolding and release, and during the final check for adequate positioning. In group 2, exclusive implantation of devices was guided by use of TEE.
Results Especially, the spatial relationship between device and cardiac structures (e.g. the ascending aorta, the interatrial septum and the superior vena cava) was accurately demonstrated in group 1. Image resolution provided by ICE was superior to that of TEE. No severe complications, including any related to ICE, were seen. Fluoroscopy time (FT) and procedure time (PT) were shorter in group 1 than in group 2 (FT: 5.5±1.5min vs. 9.3±1.6min, P<0.0001; PT: 31.9±4.6min vs. 38.8±5.8min, P<0.01). Neither sedation nor anesthesia was required in group 1.
Conclusions ICE is a safe tool to guide device closure of interatrial communications. For the patient, procedural stress and radiation exposure are negligible. ICE can be considered the guiding tool of choice for device closure, particularly when long or repeated echocardiographic viewing is required.
Keywords: Intracardiac echo; Interatrial communications; Device closure
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Introduction |
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During the last decade, device closure of interatrial communication has become a well established technique in order to prevent paradoxical embolism in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and to adequately treat severe left-to-right shunt associated with atrial septal defect (ASD).1,2 Specific severe complications of transcatheter closure, the rate of which was reported to range between 1 and 4% depending on the device and the experience of the center,2–5 can possibly be avoided by improved echocardiographic monitoring of interventional device closure. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is considered the standard approach to guide those interventions,6 but supine patients do not tolerate the transesophageal probe well, so that most centers use more or less extensive fluoroscopic imaging when performing device closure, although fluoroscopy cannot sufficiently depict the spatial relation between occluder device and cardiac structures next to the interatrial communication. Rapidly growing clots on the device are not shown either.
The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate if intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is superior to TEE as a safe guiding tool for transcatheter closure of interatrial communications.
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Methods |
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A total of 80 patients (44 male, 36 female, mean age 46, SD 13 years) with PFO (n=68) or ASD (n=12) were randomly selected for either continuous guidance by ICE (group 1; n=50) or TEE guidance (group 2; n=30). An 11F sheath was required to introduce the 10.5F AcuNav-catheter (Acuson–Siemens Inc.) for ICE. After venous puncture and introduction of an 11F access sheath into the left femoral vein, the catheter was advanced into the right atrium and the probe aimed at the interatrial septum (Fig. 1). Two standardised views were used to get a sufficient overview of the complete defect including its rims and its spacial relation to the aorta and the superior vena cava as well as the right-sided pulmonary veins: longitudinal view showing the extent of the interatrial septum (IAS) from cranial to its distal margins and a perpendicular short-axis view to visualise the anterior part of the IAS and the transition to the ascending aorta.7 Group 2 patients were sedated with 5mg of midazolam and continuous intravenous administration of propofol at 5–10mg/h. Patients who did not tolerate the probe under this regimen were intubated. A Sequoia 256 ultrasound unit (Acuson–Siemens Inc.) was employed for ICE and TEE. Amplatzer and Starflex occluder systems (AGA Medical Corp. and NMT Medical Inc.) were implanted as previously described.8 In group 1 patients, the procedure was primarily guided by ICE and was supplemented by fluoroscopy, whereas in group 2, the procedure was primarily guided by fluoroscopy and additionally monitored by TEE. Fluoroscopic time (FT), procedure time (PT) and image resolution were comparatively assessed.
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Parametric data were given as mean±1 SD and tested with the unpaired 2-tailed Student's t test for group distinction. Nonparametric data were tested employing the
2 test with one degree of freedom. A value P<0.05 was considered significant. |
Results |
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Age and sex ratio were not different between both groups. Group 1 included 8 ASDs and 42 PFOs and group 2 included 4 ASDs and 26 PFOs. In group 1, ICE depicted one early thrombus growing on the occluder device. Immediate treatment with 10,000U of heparin became therefore possible. Further complications, especially cerebral embolization could be prevented in this patient. No severe complications, including any related to ICE, were seen.
In group 2, 4 patients did not tolerate TEE and had to be intubated. The other 26 individuals tolerated the TEE probe for 3–18min during device implantation. Neither sedation nor general anesthesia was required in any group 1 patient, and all procedural stages were completely guided by ICE (Figs. 2 and 3
), including imaging of the interatrial communication during balloon sizing, device unfolding and release, and during the final check for adequate positioning. Other procedural steps were partially guided, e.g. catheter passage of the communication, placement of a wire into the left upper pulmonary vein, and placement of the long sheath with its distal opening inside the left atrium (Fig. 4). Especially, the spatial relationship between device and cardiac structures (i.e. the ascending aorta, the IAS and the superior vena cava) was accurately demonstrated. In addition, it was shown that the countercluders of the device had really engaged the IAS (Fig. 5).
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FT and PT were found to be shorter in group 1 than in group 2 (FT: 5.5±1.5min vs. 9.3±1.6min, P<0.0001; PT: 31.9±4.6min vs. 38.8±5.8min, P<0.01). Compared to TEE, ICE reduced patient stress and improved compliance. With respect to the image resolution, particular details, e.g. the guide wire inside the long sheath or the membrane inside the countercluders of an Amplatzer closure device, could be clearly depicted by ICE, but not by TEE. All patients underwent a follow-up TEE 6 months after device closure. There was no dislocation of a device. In all cases, the septum-primum parts as well as the septum-secundum parts of the IAS were correctly engaged in between the left-sided and the right-sided umbrellas. In both groups, no residual shunt could be detected by use of colour Doppler. After administration of non-transpulmonary contrast agent, 3 patients of group 1 and 4 patients of group 2 showed slight right-to-left shunt. There was no significant difference between both groups (P>0.05).
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Discussion |
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The present results demonstrate ICE monitoring in transcatheter device closure to be superior to conventional TEE. They confirm and broaden the messages of previous investigations7,9,10 showing the suitability of ICE to safely guide interventional therapy in interatrial communications. TEE requires general anesthesia with or without endotracheal intubation, whereas ICE permits unlimited echocardiographic viewing in fully conscious and compliant patients. This is of utmost importance, since malposition and migration of the device into the systemic or pulmonary circulation as well as perforation of the cardiac wall and rapid thrombus formation on the device are known to occasionally occur.1,3,4,11 This new echocardiographic approach depicts the individual morphology of interatrial communications and the instrumentation needed for the closure procedure in fullest detail. It provides a much better image resolution than TEE and therefore also facilitates the procedure for the interventional cardiologist, particularly when long continuous or repeated echocardiographic viewing is required or when complications begin to develop. ICE results in much lower procedural stress to the patient, and FT as well as PT can be shortened. It also facilitates and shortens balloon sizing of interatrial communications (Fig. 3). Increasing the safety of device implantation and reducing radiation exposure and procedural stress for the patient can be considered major advantages of intra-procedural monitoring by ICE.
Employment of ICE would also be desirable in the pediatric population. Especially in young individuals, reduction of radiation exposure is of utmost importance. Beside that, the risk of oesophageal injury from TEE probe insertion must also be considered an unresolved problem in small children. First experiences show that ICE represents a feasible and easy approach to also guide device closure in children and adolescents.10
As a result, it is likely that ICE improves the safety of interventional device closure in interatrial communications, so that this technique should replace TEE as a guiding tool not only in adults but also in adolescents and children. To our knowledge, no complications related to ICE have been reported up to now. Nevertheless, the potential risks related to ICE cannot be finally estimated at this time. Although the risk potential seems to be low, it is mandatory that the ICE-catheter is handled with caution, since it is not wire-guided what makes it generally different from conventional intravascular ultrasound catheters. Thus, fluoroscopy is recommended to safely introduce the steerable ICE-catheter into the right atrium. An even smaller version of the ICE-catheter would probably lead to more frequent use of ICE guidance. Although the expenses for the AcuNav-catheter remain an important shortcoming, certified resterilization of the catheter is now being offered by different companies for the European Community. This way, the costs for one single application of ICE lessens to less than 1000 
, what may also improve acceptance. Nevertheless, some limitations inherent to this technique must be taken into account. That the catheter is not wire-guided makes its handling different from conventional catheter procedures. Therefore, a training including an animal experimental part offered by the manufacturer is strongly recommended in order to employ this catheter safely and effectively. In addition to that, the setting of the ultrasound unit must be particularly adjusted to optimal profit from ICE-imaging of the interatrial septum, the left atrium, and the pulmonary veins. Thus, the interventionalist handling the ICE-catheter must also be experienced in echocardiography. If this is not sufficiently the case, he should consult a colleague for interpretation of the echocardiographic images and even for adjustment of the ICE-catheter. Although large venous punctures are not necessarily expected to cause major complications, we recommend 2–6h observation.
In conclusion, ICE can be considered a safe tool for guiding device closure of PFO and ASD. Supine patients tolerate ICE much better than TEE. ICE also reduces FT and PT and seems to be advantageous, especially when extended echocardiographic viewing is required. The advantages of ICE seem to justify the expense for the catheter.
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References |
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- Braun M.U., Fassbender D., Schoen S.P., et al. Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with cerebral ischemia. J Am Coll Cardiol (2002) 39:2019–2025.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Du Z.D., Hijazi Z.M., Kleinman C.S., Silverman N.H., Larntz K. Comparison between transcatheter and surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect in children and adults: results of a multicenter nonrandomized trial. Amplatzer Investigators. J Am Coll Cardiol (2002) 39:1836–1844.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Chessa M., Carminati M., Butera G., et al. Early and late complications associated with transcatheter occlusion of secundum atrial septal defect. J Am Coll Cardiol (2002) 39:1061–1065.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Nkomo V.T., Theuma P., Maniu V.C., et al. Patent foramen ovale transcatheter closure device thrombosis. Mayo Clin Proc (2001) 76:1057–1061.[Abstract]
- Pinto F.F., Sousa L., Fragata J. Late cardiac tamponade after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with cardioseal device. Cardiol Young (2001) 11:233–235.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Sievert H., Horvath K., Zadan E., et al. Patent foramen ovale closure in patients with transient ischemic attack/stroke. J Interv Cardiol (2001) 14:261–266.[Medline]
- Bartel T., Konorza T., Arjumand J., et al. Intracardiac echocardiography is superior to conventional monitoring for guiding closure of interatrial communications. Circulation (2003) 107:795–797.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Bruch L., Parsi A., Grad M.O., et al. Transcatheter closure of interatrial communications for secondary prevention of paradoxical embolism: single-center experience. Circulation (2002) 105:2845–2848.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Mullen M.J., Dias B.F., Walker F., Siu S.C., Benson L.N., McLaughlin R.R. Intracardiac echocardiography guided device closure of atrial septal defects. J Am Coll Cardiol (2003) 41:285–292.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Koenig P., Cao Q.L., Heitschmidt M., Waight D.J., Hijazi Z.M. Role of intracardiac echocardiographic guidance in transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovale using the Amplatzer device. J Interv Cardiol (2003) 16:51–62.[CrossRef][Medline]
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