[Application of perimembranous ventricular septal defects closure solely by femoral vein approach under transesophageal echocardiography guidance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and safety of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (PmVSD) closure solely by femoral vein approach under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance.
 Methods: From January 1, 2014 to May 31, 2016, 26 patients with PmVSD in Second Xiangya Hospital were selected, with age at 3.2-6.0 (4.3±0.7) years old and body weight at 15.0-19.5 (16.7±1.4) kg. The diameter of VSD was 3.5-4.8 (4.1±0.3) mm. All patients were treated by percutaneous PmVSD closure solely by femoral vein approach under TEE guidance. The effect of the procedure was evaluated by TEE and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). The clinical follow-up study was conducted by TTE at 1, 3, 6 and 12 month (s) after the procedure.
 Results: Twenty cases were successfully treated with percutaneous PmVSD closure solely by femoral vein approach under TEE guidance, and the success rate was 76.9%. Six patients were converted to perventricular closure under TEE guidance because the guide wire in two cases or catheter in other cases could not pass through PmVSD. The diameter of symmetrical VSD occluder was 6.0-7.0 (6.2±0.4) mm. The procedural time was 12.0-64.0 (26.8±6.3) min. The residence time at ICU was 1.8-2.4 (26.8±6.3) h. The in-hospital time was 4.0-5.0 (4.4±0.5) d. There were 3 patients with immediate post-operative trivial residual shunt and incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB). All patients survived with no peripheral vascular injury or complications such as tricuspid regurgitation, pericardial tamponade and pulmonary infection. The residual shunt disappeared in 3 patients and IRBBB became normal rhythm in 3 patients at 1 month follow-up time point. No patients suffered from occluder malposition, residual shunt, pericardial effusion, arrhythmia (atrio-ventricular block), aortic valve regurgitation and tricuspid regurgitation.
 Conclusion: TEE-guided percutaneous PmVSD closureby femoral vein approach is safe and effective.