Conventional transcatheter aortic valve replacement is normally recommended with transthoracic echocardiography, and contrast agent mediated fluoroscopy under anesthesia to guide a better implantation of the transcatheter valve. However, iodine-containing contrast agent possibly damages the patient’s kidney, and even induces the acute kidney injury. We reported a 75-year-old patient diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, moderate regurgitation, and chronic renal failure. We performed the aortic valve replacement under the guidance of fluoroscopy and transesophageal ultrasound without contrast agent. Seven days after surgery, the patient recovered well and discharged with alleviated aortic stenosis and fixed transcatheter aortic valve.

Objective    To investigate the early clinical results of MitraClip system in domestic patients. Methods     We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 36 patients who underwent transcatheter edge-to-edge repair procedure using MitraClip system in Beijing Fuwai Hospital, Shenzhen Fuwai Hospital and Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital between January and June 2021. There were 24 males and 12 females, with a median age of 70 (47-86) years. Ten (27.8%) patients had 3+ mitral regurgitation (MR) and 26 (72.2%) patients had 4+ MR preoperatively. Results    All procedures were successfully performed. The reduction in MR was 2+ at least immediately after surgery, and 91.7% of patients had MR≤2+ at 3 days postoperatively. There was no statistical difference in left ventricular ejection fraction change postoperatively. Forward velocity and peak gradient of mitral valve were increased after the procedure. Mean gradient of mitral valve were increased at 3 days postoperatively than immediately after surgery (P<0.001). Two patients had acute pericardial effusion intraoperatively, and received pericardial puncture and drainage immediately. Conclusion    MitraClip system has been applied well in domestic patients and can significantly improve MR. This sutdy has a good consistency with foreign studies, and the early results are satisfactory.

Objective    To explore the key points, indications and safety of trans-jugular transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in infants. Methods    The clinical data of 53 infants with ASD from January 2017 to May 2019 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. There were 20 males and 33 females with the age of 1.2 (0.5-2.9) years, and body weight of 9.0 (6.8-10.6) kg. The ASD diameter was 9.8 (8.0-14.0) mm. Thirty-one patients were treated under the guidance of transesophageal ultrasound (TEE), and the other 22 patients under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We used the steerable curved sheath through the internal jugular vein under the guidance of echocardiography, and the average occluder size was 13.5±4.5 mm. Results    All of the 53 patients were successfully occluded, and none of them changed to radiation-guided or transthoracic surgery. Postoperative hospital stay was 3.35±0.70 d. There was no complication such as peripheral vascular injury, occluder malposition or displacement, serious arrhythmia or pericardial effusion. The patients were followed up for 14.3±5.1 months without arrhythmia, residual shunt, occluder malposition or displacement or thrombus. Conclusion    Echocardiography-guided trans-jugular closure of ASD for infants with low weight and large ASD shunt or patients with inferior vena cava abnormalities not suitable for femoral vein treatment, not only overcomes the radiation risk of radiation guidance, but also maintains the advantages of minimal invasiveness and safety, providing a new treatment option for such patients.

Objective    To assess the feasibility and safety of percutaneous transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in outpatients. Methods    From December 2016 to June 2018, 50 simple ASD patients underwent TTE-guided transcatheter closure in the outpatient operating room of our hospital (a TTE group) including 22 males and 28 females at the age of 16-48 (27.40±6.95) years. Fifty patients with simple ASD treated with the guidance of conventional fluoroscopy during the same period were treated as a control group, including 22 males and 28 females at the age of 15-48 (28.58±6.96) years. Both groups were re-examined by TTE during follow-up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Results    The mean age, body weight, the size of ASD and occluder and success rate had no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the TTE group had significantly lower mean operation time (P<0.01) and less cost (P<0.01) since patients need not to be hospitalized. No related complications were found in the TTE group during follow-up. Conclusion    Percutaneous transcatheter closure of ASD guided by TTE appears safe and effective for outpatients, and can significantly reduce the cost.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous intervention of children with combined congenital heart abnormality solely guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) . Methods: From September 2015 to June 2017, 21 children with combined congenital heart abnormality undergoing percutaneous interventional guided by TTE in Fuwai hospital were enrolled in our study, and the clinical data were retrospective analyzed. The atrial septal defect(ASD) closure, ventricular septal defect(VSD) closure, patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) closure or balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty were performed under the guidance of TTE. The procedural effect was evaluated by TTE after operation. The patients were followed up after discharged from the hospital. Results: The age was (37.3±11.6) months, and there were 9 male and 12 female patients. There were 4 cases with ASD and VSD, 6 cases with VSD and PDA, 6 cases with ASD and PDA, 2 cases with VSD and pulmonary stenosis, 3 cases with ASD and pulmonary stenosis. The operations were successfully performed in all patients. No one required extra X ray guidance or open heart surgery. The operation time was (44.6±7.5)min. All patients did not require blood transfusion, inotropic support, and analgesia. There were no complications such as peripheral vascular injury and pericardialeffusion after the operation. The length of hospital stay time was (3.5±0.6) days. All patients were recovered well. The follow-up was (17.6±5.2) months, and post-procedural conduction disturbances, residual shunts, occlude fall off, thrombosis, and new onset of valvular regurgitation were not observed in these patients. Conclusion Percutaneous interventional of children with combined congenital heart abnormality solely guided by TTE is safe and effective, and the procedure can avoid the potential injuries of X ray and contrast agent.

Objective     To analyze the safety and effectiveness of ultrasound-guided thoracoscopic atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Methods     We prospectively collected the clinical data of 12 patients with ASD treated by ultrasound-guided thoracoscopic ASD closure in Fuwai Hospital from January to September 2017. The characteristics of the patients' ASD and operation, operation safety and effectiveness, postoperative complications and follow-up results were analyzed. Results     Among the 12 patients, 10 were successfully treated with ultrasound-guided thoracoscopic ASD closure. Two patients switched to ASD repair under thoracoscopy-assisted cardiopulmonary bypass. The size of the ASD was 17-40 (27.22±8.97) mm and the size of the occluder was 36 (30-42) mm. The average postoperative length of hospital stay was 6 days. There were no complications such as arrhythmia, bleeding and pericardial effusion after operation. The average follow-up was 6 (3-10) months after the operation. During the follow-up, no Ⅲ-degree conduction block, occluder dislocation, residual shunt or cardiac pericardial effusion was found. Conclusion     Ultrasound-guided thoracoscopic ASD closure is a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment. This technique provides a new minimally invasive surgical option for patients with large defect diameter and poor edge condition.

Objective To analyze the midterm outcome of patients with congenital aortic stenosis undergoing percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) by single echocardiographic guidance. Methods The clinical data of 12 patients with congenital aortic stenosis who underwent PBAV by single echocardiographic guidance at Fuwai Hospital from January 2016 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 7 males and 5 females with an average age of 18.27±15.30 years. The preoperative peak pressure gradient was 61.8–110.0 (80.30±24.50) mm Hg, and 50% of patients had aortic regurgitation. Results All patients successfully underwent PBAV. Aortic annulus diameter was 18.65±3.17 mm and balloon diameter was 17.62±3.77 mm, with balloon diameter to annulus diameter ratio of 0.92±0.07. The peak transaortic gradient was 16-51 (36.72±12.33) mm Hg immediately after procedure, which was significantly different from the preoperation (P=0.000). During the follow-up period, the peak transaortic gradient was 21-58 (37.06±13.52) mm Hg, and there was no significant difference between the follow-up and immediate postoperation (P=0.310). Immediately after procedure and during follow-up, 58% of patients had aortic regurgitation, which was not statistically different from the preoperation (P=0.682). Conclusion Systematic use of Doppler echocardiographic guidance for PBAV is feasible, and that it is associated with a high success rate and a very low complication rate.

Objective    To assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) solely under echocardiography guidance. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 200 patients who received the percutaneous closure of PDA under echocardiography guidance in Fuwai Hospital from August 2013 to April 2016. According the different approach, they were divided into 2 groups: a femoral artery approach group (n=143) and a femoral vein approach group (n=57). In the femoral artery approach group, there were 42 males and 101 females aged 3.20±5.63 years. In the femoral vein group, there were 10 males and 47 females aged 7.30±11.36 years. All Patients were treated by percutaneous PDA closure solely under echocardiography guidance. The follow-up was performed at one month after the operation by echocardiography, chest radiograph and electrocardiogram. Results    All 200 patients were successfully treated with percutaneous closure of PDA. The patients’ gender, in-hospital stay, rates of occluder  detachment were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the femoral vein approach group, the femoral artery approach group had a younger age (3.20±5.63 years vs. 7.30±11.36 years, P<0.001), less body weight (14.25±11.54 kg vs. 24.25±19.14 kg, P<0.001) and shorter diameter of PDA (3.06±0.79 mm vs. 5.93±0.68 mm, P<0.001) and PDA occluders (5.43±1.00 mm vs. 12.14±0.54 mm, P<0.001), but had higher hospitalization expenses (32 108.2±3 100.2 yuan vs. 25 120.7±3 534.1 yuan, P<0.001). In the femoral vein approach group, one patient was closed under radiation guidance because guide wires could not pass through PDA. One patient in the femoral artery approach group suffered from occluder detachment at one day after operation and was cured by transthoracic minimally invasive PDA occlusion. There were no complications of occluder detachment, residual shunt, pericardial effusion or left pulmonary stenosis during the follow-up. Conclusion    Echocardiography-guided percutaneous PDA closure is safe and effective, while the proper interventional approach should be chosen by the anatomical features of PDA.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous induced thrombosis closure on small patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) solely under echocardiography guidance.Methods From June 2013 to September 2016,276 PDA patients were treated by femoral artery retrograde approach under echocardiography guidance.Twenty-five patients (14 boys,11 girls) among them with small PDA received percutaneous induced thrombosis closure because the delivery sheath could not pass PDA,with mean age (3.7 ± 1.6) years,mean body weight (16.6 ±5.4) kg and the mean diameter of the most narrow PDA was (1.3 ± 0.4) mm.All patients were assessed by transthoracic echocardiography,chest radiography and electrocardiography preoperatively.The intraoperative and postoperative effects were evaluated by echocardiography.Outpatient assessment was performed at 1,3,6 and 12 months after operation with electrocardiography and echocardiography,and yearly thereafter.Results Twenty-five patients were successfully treated with percutaneous induced thrombosis closure solely under echocardiography guidance.The mean operation time was (35.2 ± 6.1) minutes.The immediate residual shunt rates and 24 hours after operation were 28.0％ (7/25 cases) and 16.0％ (4/25 cases),respectively.All patients recovered and were discharged from hospital.The average hospitalization stay was (3.0 ± 0.6) days.The mean follow-up was (16.8 ± 12.3) months,residual shunt was observed in 2 patients (8.0％),and it decreased from 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm preoperatively to 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm postoperatively,respectively.All patients survived without peripheral vascular injury,cardiac perforation,PDA rupture or thrombembolia.Conclusions Percutaneous induced thrombosis closure of small PDA solely under echocardiography guidance is safe and effective.It can avoid occluder implantation and radiation injury.However,the residual shunt after operation needs following up closely.