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Background The most common reason for reintervention after a Bjork modification of the Fontan procedure, in which the right ventricle (RV) is incorporated into the pulmonary circulation by connecting the right atrial (RA) appendage to the RV directly or with an extra-anatomic graft, is obstruction or regurgitation of the RA–RV connection. Transcatheter implantation of a valved stent is an appealing option for the treatment of RA–RV conduit dysfunction in these patients. In the present study, we assessed early and intermediate results after transcatheter valve implantation within an obstructed or regurgitant RA–RV modified Fontan pathway. Methods Through a retrospective multicenter registry, we collected data from 16 patients with a modified Fontan circulation who were treated with percutaneous Melody or Sapien valve implantation for dysfunction of an extra-anatomic RA–RV conduit or valve. Results All patients had successful and uncomplicated implantation of a Melody (n = 15) or Sapien 3 (n = 1) valve with hemodynamic and, in most cases, clinical improvement. During a median follow-up of 3.3 years, 3 patients died of cardiovascular causes unrelated to the procedure or the valve, and no major valve dysfunction was observed. Conclusion Percutaneous transcatheter valve deployment to treat a dysfunctional RA–RV connection after a Bjork modification of the Fontan procedure is a viable alternative to surgery, with low procedural risk, and appears to offer good early and intermediate results.© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objectives: We sought to characterize UK-wide balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) experience in the TAVI era. Background: BAV for acquired calcific aortic stenosis is in a phase of renaissance, largely due to the development of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: Data from 423 patients at 14 centers across the UK were analyzed. Results: Patients were aged 80.9 6 9.5 years; 52.5% were male. Mean logistic EuroScore was 27.3% 6 16.8%. Mean peak transaortic gradient fell from 62.0 6 26.3 to 28.3 6 16.2 mm Hg. Aortic valve area increased from 0.58 6 0.19 to 0.80 6 0.25 cm 2 echocardiographically. Procedural complication rate was 6.3%, comprising death (2.4%), blood transfusion � 2 U (1.2%), cardiac tamponade (1.0%), stroke (1.0%), vascular surgical repair (1.0%), coronary embolism (0.5%), and permanent pacemaker (0.2%). Mortality was 13.8% at 30 days and 36.3% at 12 months. Subsequently, 18.3% of patients underwent TAVI and 7.0% sAVR, with improved survival compared to those who had no further intervention (logrank < 0.0001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated that survival was adversely effected by the presence of coronary artery disease (HR 1.53, 95%CI 1.08‐2.17, P 5 0.018), poor LV function (HR 1.54, 95%CI 1.09‐2.16, P 5 0.014), and either urgent (HR 1.70, 95%CI 1.18‐2.45; P 5 0.004) or emergent presentation (HR 3.72, 95%CI 2.27‐6.08; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty offers good immediate hemodynamic efficacy at an acceptable risk of major complications. Medium-term prognosis is poor in the absence of definitive therapy. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background Patients requiring congenital and structural heart interventions often require large-sized sheath insertion into femoral veins and arteries. Clinical outcome data on the use of suture-mediated devices for femoral venous access site closure are limited. Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of the Perclose™ (Abbott Vascular Devices, CA) suture-mediated device using the preclosure technique, in achieving haemostasis at femoral venous access site following large sheath insertion (≥8 Fr). Design and Setting Two hundred and forty-three consecutive patients underwent 310 access site closures with the Perclose™ device using the preclosure technique. There were 151 (62%) women, mean age 43 (±16) years. 234/243 (96%) received heparin. Mean venous access site sheath diameter was 11.5 (±3) Fr. Results Immediate haemostasis (

OBJECTIVES: To assess procedural and clinical outcomes in adults with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty (PABV), who are considered unsuitable on initial assessment for surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). BACKGROUND: Surgical valve replacement provides better outcomes than conservative treatment for patients with severe symptomatic AS; however, patients with multiple comorbidities or hemodynamic instability carry a high operative risk. While TAVI offers an alternative to surgery, not all patients are suitable. This study looks at medium-term outcomes in a series of high-risk patients undergoing PABV. METHODS: Pre- and postprocedure aortic valve gradients were measured by catheterization and echocardiography. Patients were assessed for symptomatic benefit and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Over 4 years, 42 patients underwent PABV. Mean clinical follow-up was 8 +/- 5.8 months and survival was 63%. Mean echocardiographic aortic valve gradient fell from 84.6 +/- 27 mmHg to 51.3 +/- 16 mmHg (p < 0.05). In 29% (12/42) patients, PABV was performed as a bridge to definitive AVR. Four had surgical AVR and six had TAVI. Two had successful noncardiac surgery. Four patients died in the periprocedural period and all were in cardiogenic shock. Patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV decreased from 60% to 5% postprocedure (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PABV is useful as a palliation or bridge to definitive therapy for treatment of patients with severe AS unsuitable for surgery. It is associated with good medium-term cardiac outcomes and enables some patients to receive definitive therapy.