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This study was designed to compare reduced heart rate variability (HRV) in children with atrial septal defect (ASD) after surgical ASD closure with interventional (Amplatzer device) closure. Reduced HRV was observed in all children with ASD before treatment. HRV was further impaired 1 month after surgical ASD closure but not after catheter device closure. Three months after treatment, HRV indexes tended to normalize in both groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) may result in a cerebrovascular event - a presumed paradoxical embolism (PE). However, the presence of this phenomenon among paediatric patients was rarely evaluated. Transcatheter PFO closure was considered to be a method of treatment in such patients., Methods: For evaluation clinical data and long-term outcome, we reviewed records of patients below 18 years of age, with history of cerebrovascular event related to PE, who underwent procedure of percutaneous PFO closure in years 1999-2014 in our department., Results: Among 230 patients with cerebrovascular events who had PFO closed percutaneously, seven children (aged 12-16 years, five male) were selected. Indications for closure were cryptogenic stroke in two patients and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in five patients. Diagnosis of PFO was established by transthoracic echocardiography, with right-to-left shunt (RLS) through PFO confirmed by transoesophageal echocardiography. Contrast transcranial Doppler (c-TCD) was performed preprocedurally in four patients, revealing significant RLS. For percutaneous closure of PFO different occluders (Starflex, Amplatzer PFO devices, Cardio-O-Fix) were used. Closure was successfully completed in all patients and no procedure-related complications were observed. Postprocedural c-TCD six months after closure revealed no significant RLS. During follow-up (3 to 10 years) one patient had an episode of recurrent TIA; however, in this patient paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was found during the follow-up period., Conclusions: Cerebral embolism due to PFO is uncommon in children. Transcatheter PFO closure in this group of patients is a safe and effective procedure. C-TCD is plausible technique for detection RLS and monitoring PFO closure efficacy in this group of patients.

Background: The use of an Amplatzer Cribriform Septal Occluder (ACSO) for percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure (especially in cases with atrial septal aneurysm) has been recently described as superior compared to that of an Amplatzer PFO Occluder (APFO)., Aim: To assess immediate and medium-term clinical outcomes of patients with PFO with paradoxical embolism event (EE) who underwent transcatheter PFO closure with an APFO or an ACSO., Methods: Overall, 56 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous closure of PFO with an APFO device; the results were compared to those in seven patients treated with ACSO. Deaths due to embolism, stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) were considered recurrent EE. Pre- and 6 month post-intervention right to left shunting (RLS) were evaluated with intravenous contrast injection by transcranial Doppler examination of the middle cerebral artery during Valsalva manoeuvre., Results: The procedure was successfully completed in all patients in both groups. No procedure-related complications were observed during hospitalisation. Residual RLS was noted at six months in 14/56 (25%) patients in the APFO group and 4/7 (57%) patients in the ACSO group (p <0.05). Recurrent TIA was observed in three patients in the APFO group (one of them had small residual shunt immediately after procedure and at six-month follow-up). Another patient from that group experienced stroke one month after the procedure. No recurrence of EE was recorded in the ACSO group., Conclusions: Transcatheter PFO closure with both Amplatzer devices is a minimally invasive procedure with high success and low complication rates. Taking in consideration residual RLS in the medium-term period, the application of a Cribriform device is not superior to that of an Amplatzer PFO device. Results of randomised trials are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of transcatheter therapy in patients with PFO and a paradoxical thromboembolic event.

Introduction: Restoration of blood flow through a previously occluded ductus arteriosus may occur in some patients. Treatment strategy in patients with such residual shunts has not yet been uniformly established., Aim: To present single-centre experience and to attempt to establish a strategy of management of patients with residual ductus arteriosus shunts following percutaneous closure., Methods: Of 352 patients who underwent percutaneous closure of ductus arteriosus, in 13 subjects complete closure failed (coils and Rashkind occluders were used in 10 and 3 patients, respectively). In these patients other percutaneous interventions aiming at total closure of residual shunt were attempted., Results: In 12 patients coils were inserted (one patient received two coils). Introduction of implant in one patient failed, but total occlusion of the shunt was confirmed one day after the procedure. Trivial residual shunt was observed in one patient after one-year follow-up., Conclusions: Percutaneous treatment of residual shunts within the ductus arteriosus is an effective and safe procedure. In our opinion identifying and treating such leaks is important, as it prevents complications and long-term need for antibiotic prevention of infective endocarditis. In the case of a small residual shunt, insertion of a coil seems to be the optimal therapy due to the low cost of the device, favourable design and high effectiveness. For patients in whom anatomy of the ductus arteriosus has been significantly changed, particularly in previously treated subjects, techniques using vascular loops or insertion using a catheter wedge may be helpful.

Background: Invasive procedures involving the atria may promote the development of iatrogenic cardiac arrhythmias., Aim: To analyse the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias following transcatheter or cardiosurgical closure of the secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD)., Methods: The study group consisted of 91 patients, aged 2-18 years with haemodynamically significant ASD who underwent surgical (n=44) or transcatheter (Amplatzer occluder) (n=47) closure of ASD. Standard ECG and Holter ECG recordings, obtained before and after the procedure, were analysed. The follow-up duration ranged from 2.5 to 5.5 years. Cardiac arrhythmias were divided into benign or significant (requiring pharmacological therapy), early or late, and transient or permanent., Results: Cardiac arrhythmias were detected in 16 (36%) patients who underwent surgery compared with 1 (2.1%) patient who underwent transcatheter ASD closure (p<0.05). In surgically treated patients, arrhythmias were benign in 9 patients, significant in 7 children, early in 15 subjects, late in one patient, transient in 13 children and permanent in 3 subjects. One patient, who underwent transcatheter ASD closure, developed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia one day after the procedure, successfully terminated with verapamil., Conclusions: Transcatheter closure of ASD is associated with a lower risk of procedure-related arrhythmias than surgical treatment. However, longer follow-up in patients treated with transcatheter procedure is needed in order to draw definite conclusions.

We prospectively compared closure and complication rates in 91 children with secundum atrial septal defects: 44 (mean age, 8.1 +/- 4.7 years) were treated surgically and 47 (mean age, 10.1 +/- 4.9 years) were treated by percutaneous Amplatzer septal occluder Complications were classified as mild, moderate, or severe. The closure rate was similar in the 2 groups: 42/44 children (95.5%) in the surgical group versus 46/47 patients in the device group (97.5%). Mild complications were observed in 17/44 patients in the surgical group vs 2/47 in the device group; moderate, 11/44 in the surgical vs 1/47 in the device group; and severe, 2/44 in the surgical group vs none in the device group. Blood products were administered to 18 patients in the surgical group and to 1 patient in the device group (P < 0.001). Transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects with the Amplatzer device has the advantage of fewer complications, shorter hospitalization, and reduced need of blood products. Nonetheless, the surgeon's ability to close any atrial septal defect regardless of its size or location remains an important advantage of surgery.