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Objectives To review the success and technical aspects of pulmonary valve (PV) perforation using chronic total occlusion (CTO) hardware in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS). Background Interventional therapy is possible in selected patients with PA-IVS. Among the various interventional options available, radiofrequency and laser assisted perforation may be more successful, but require expertise and may be substantially costly. Methods We describe the technique of mechanical catheter PV perforation using currently available coronary hardware meant for coronary CTO in nine cases with PA-IVS. After complete echocardiographic evaluation and informed parental consent was obtained, patients were electively intubated, mechanically ventilated, adequately heparinized and were placed on intravenous prostaglandin infusion. Basic steps involved were—localizing the atretic segment and accomplishing coaxial alignment of catheters using biplane fluoroscopy, crossing the atretic segment with the soft end of perforating guidewire, stabilizing the assembly and performing graded balloon dilatation with the balloon size never exceeding 130% of pulmonary annulus diameter. For crossing the atretic PV, a retrograde approach was used in one patient where the antegrade approach was not possible. Results The procedure was successful in 8/9 cases (89%). Valve opening was achieved in all eight patients with immediate fall in right ventricular (RV) systolic pressures. One neonate died following surgery after catheter induced RV perforation. All surviving cases were discharged from the hospital in good general condition with no evidence of heart failure and a room air oxygen saturation of >85%. No patient required an additional pulmonary irrigation procedure. Conclusion With appropriate patient and hardware selection, PV perforation using readily available coronary hardware is feasible in PA-IVS. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objectives We compared dual-source CT (DSCT) and conventional angiography (CA) in evaluation of chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary arteries. Background Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in CTO is technically difficult and has comparatively lower success rate than intervention in non-occluded artery. Accurate assessment of lesion morphology is an important determinant of PCI success in CTO. Methods Nineteen symptomatic patients (18 men, age: 58.6 ± 10.6 years) with a CTO on CA were subjected to a DSCT (Definition, Siemens, Germany). Heart rate (HR) control was not performed. Dedicated post-processing software was used for lesion analysis on both modalities. Presence of bridging collaterals, stump morphology, calcification, side branch, proximal tortuosity, occlusion length, distal vessel interpretability, and distal lesions were statistically compared. Results There were 20 CTOs. HR during DSCT ranged from 53 to 131 bpm. Bridging collaterals were seen in 3/20 (15%) lesions on CA and in none on DSCT. Stump anatomy and side branch were identified equally well. Plaque calcification was identified in 5/20 (25%) lesions on CA and in 12/20 (60%) lesions on DSCT (P = 0.025). Nature and extent of calcification were better visualized on DSCT. No proximal tortuosity was noted. Distal vessel was better interpretable on DSCT (15/20; 75%) compared to CA (9/20; 45%) (P = 0.05). No significant difference in lesion length was noted. Conclusion DSCT performs as well as CA for most features of CTO. Avoidance of need to control HR, ability to better detect and characterize calcium and to interpret distal vessels make it a useful pre-intervention investigation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

De novo fenestration of Goretex conduit of extra-cardiac total cavopulmonary connection in the postoperative period is challenging, and is rarely reported. We report a 17-year-old boy with failing Fontan circuit in whom fenestration was created, aided by an Inoue balloon.