Abstract

Different percutaneous interventional procedures are needed to reach and maintain adequate anatomical and physiological conditions for the Fontan circulation. We aim to describe the experience gained at a childrens hospital in such interventions, and to analyze the clinical outcomes. Retrospective study of all patients with Fontan circulation completed between 1995 and 2013. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and the different types of percutaneous interventions performed, considering three different periods of time: before Glenn surgery, between Glenn and Fontan surgeries, and after Fontan was completed. Survival and time to indication of percutaneous interventions in each period were analyzed, as well as the clinical situation at last follow-up. Of the 91 patients analyzed, 46 (50.5%) required percutaneous interventions. The most frequent procedures were pulmonary artery angioplasty and angioplasty of the Fontan conduit. Estimated survival at 10, 20 and 30 years of age was 96.2%, 94.7% and 89.4%, respectively. There were no significant differences in survival of patients undergoing percutaneous interventions or not. Overall survival and time to indication of percutaneous interventions were significantly lower in the group of patients with right morphology systemic ventricle. Patients with fenestrated Fontan required interventions more frequently. At the end of follow-up, 66 patients (72.5%) were asymptomatic, without significant differences between patients who underwent or did not undergo percutaneous interventions. Interventional catheterization procedures are often necessary to reach and maintain the fragile Fontan circulation, mainly in patients with right morphology systemic ventricles and fenestrated Fontan conduits.

Abstract

This was a prospective, single-center study evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of early ambulation (within 30 min) following femoral artery closure with the ProGlide® suture-mediated vascular closure device (PD) in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization compared with manual compression. It is unclear whether early ambulation with ProGlide is safe or is associated with patient satisfaction and cost savings as compared with manual compression (MC). Inclusion criteria were met in 170 patients (85 PD and 85 MC patients). Patients ambulated 20 ft. within 30 min (PD) or after the requisite 4 h recumbent time (MC) if feasible. Primary endpoint was time-to-ambulation (TTA) following device closure. We also directly compared the safety of closure, times-to-hemostasis (TTH), -ambulation (TTA) and -discharge (TTD) with MC and, using a fully allocated cost model, performed cost analysis for both strategies. Multivariate analysis was used to determine predictors of patient satisfaction. The primary endpoint of safe, early ambulation was achieved following closure (mean of 27.1 ± 14.9 min, 95% confidence interval [CI] 25.2–30.2). Predictors of patient satisfaction in the PD group were absence of pain during closure, decreased TTA, and drastic reductions in TTD, the latter contributed indirectly to significant cost savings in the PD group (1250.3 ± 146.4 vs. 2248.1 ± 910.2 dollars, respectively, P < 0.001) and incremental cost savings by strategy also favored closure over MC ($84, 807). ProGlide is safe and effective for femoral artery closure in patients who ambulate within 30 min after cardiac catheterization, translating into improved patient satisfaction and substantial cost savings.