Background: Presence of a restrictive interatrial communication in patients with univentricular anatomy significantly affects surgical outcomes. In patients with univentricular hearts, wide open atrial communication leads to lower pulmonary artery pressure, which is one of the most important factors influencing the success of bidirectional Glenn and Fontan operations. In some patients, recurrence of restricted interatrial communication can be observed despite initially successful interventional or surgical creation of unrestrictive interatrial communication.
Aim: To evaluate efficacy of stent implantation into the interatrial septum in patients with univentricular heart and a secondary restriction of interatrial communication.
Methods: In 2006-2010, we created unrestrictive interatrial communication by stent implantation into the interatrial septum in 7 children with univentricular anatomy with systemic right ventricle (4 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and 3 patients with mitral atresia). In all patients we diagnosed recurrent restriction of interatrial communication despite prior surgical or interventional creation of unrestrictive interatrial communication. Patient age at stent implantation was 3 to 30 months. Maximal systolic pressure gradient between the left and the right atrium was 6-29 mm Hg and left atrial pressure ranged from 20/17/19 mm Hg to 40/29/32 mm Hg. In all patients, we implanted a Palmaz-Genesis stent (length 18-29 mm) with subsequent balloon redilatation.
Results: In all 7 patients, we created unrestrictive interatrial communication with mean pressure gradient reduction from 13.14 mm Hg to 0.86 mm Hg (p < 0.006). Mean interatrial communication diameter increased from 4.14 mm to 10.57 mm (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Percutaneous stent implantation into the interatrial septum in children with univentricular heart and secondary restriction of interatrial communication is a safe and effective method. Kardiol Pol 2011; 69, 11: 1137-1141.