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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2008;33:607-612. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2007.12.034
Copyright © 2008, European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier. All rights reserved.
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Rescue surgery following percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation

Martin Kostolnya, Victor Tsanga,*, Johannes Nordmeyera, Carin Van Doorna, Alessandra Frigiolab, Sachin Khambadkonea, Marc R. de Levala, Philipp Bonhoeffera

a Cardiac Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, NHS Trust, Great Ormond Street, WC1N 3JH London, United Kingdom
b Policlinico San Donato Milanese IRCCS, Milan, Italy

Received 25 September 2007; received in revised form 11 December 2007; accepted 20 December 2007.

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 20 74059200; fax: +44 20 74301281. (Email: tsangv{at}gosh.nhs.uk).


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 5. Summary
 Appendix A
 References
 
Objective: Percutaneous pulmonary valve insertion (PPVI) is an evolving alternative to surgical pulmonary valve insertion. The aim of this study is to review the acute complications of PPVI requiring emergency rescue surgery. Patients and methods: Between 09/2000 and 01/2007, 152 patients (pts), received a PPVI. Patient's charts were reviewed in retrospect. Results: Emergency rescue surgery (ERS) took place in 6 pts (3.9%). Indications for ERS were: homograft rupture two pts, dislodgment of the stented valve in a dilated right ventricular outflow tract two pts, occlusion of the right pulmonary artery one pt and compression of the left main coronary artery one pt. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established through repeat sternotomy incision with femorofemoral cannulation in 2/6 pts. The stented valve was removed in five and replaced with a homograft in three and a valved conduit in two pts. One ruptured homograft was repaired leaving the stented valve in situ. All patients survived, one sustained mild neurological impairment. Conclusion: Although some of the acute complications of PPVI were probably related to a learning curve (4 among the first 50 pts and 2 among the last 102 patients) the need for ERS is unlikely to be completely abolished. This experience highlights the importance of close collaboration between cardiologists and surgeons in these evolving technologies. Highly skilled and responsive surgical back up is necessary to support the introduction and to sustain institutional programmes such as PPVI.

Key Words: Percutaneous • Pulmonary valve • Implantation • Emergency surgery


   1. Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 5. Summary
 Appendix A
 References
 
Classic indications for pulmonary valve replacement are significant pulmonary outflow tract obstruction with or without significant pulmonary insufficiency, RV dilation or RV failure. However, earlier intervention may lead to improvement in exercise tolerance, right ventricular volumes and function [1–3]. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is an emerging alternative to surgical placement of pulmonary valve into the right ventricular outflow tract [4,5]. The prospect of offering a less invasive approach to deal with ventricular outflow tract dysfunction is clearly attractive for the patient, the cardiologist and the surgeon [6]. The aim of this study is to describe acute complications of percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement requiring emergency rescue surgery (ERS). Furthermore, the importance of close interdisciplinary cooperation is highlighted.


   2. Patients and methods
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
3. Results
 4. Discussion
 5. Summary
 Appendix A
 References
 
Patients presenting for placement of a pulmonary valve into the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) at our institution are systematically evaluated regarding their suitability for surgical or interventional approach by a multidisciplinary team.

Current indications for PPVI are RVOT conduits with diameter between 16 and 22 mm, age >5 years and weight >20 kg.

Current limitations for PPVI are RVOT dimensions over 22 mm with dynamic outflow aneurysms. Retrosternal conduits with extrinsic compression will have incomplete relief of stenosis [7]. In patients with conduits less than 16 mm a temporary relief of RVOT gradient may be achieved, however eventually these patients would need a larger effective diameter of the RVOT.

Between 09/2000 and 01/2007, 152 patients (pts) received a percutaneous pulmonary valve at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and The Heart hospital in London and at the Hospital Necker in Paris. Six out of 152 (3.9%) pts had to undergo ERS after a major complication during implantation of the percutaneous valve. Patient's charts were analysed in retrospect. Their preoperative characteristics are summarised in Table 1 .


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  		Table 1 Preoperative patient's characteristics
 
2.1 Case history 1
A 14-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of pulmonary stenosis/ventricular septal defect (PS/VSD) treated initially by balloon valvuloplasty and later a BT shunt in the neonatal period. He had complete repair at the age of 20 months with a 14 mm Hancock® valve and patch VSD closure. Later this was revised with a size 18 mm bicuspid homograft (from originally 25 mm). An 18 mm percutaneous valve was implanted. There was difficult catheter manoeuvring due to calcifications, but otherwise this was an uneventful implantation. Shortly after extubation, the patient became bradycardiac and hypotensive. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was commenced. A large left haemothorax was seen on fluoroscopy (Fig. 1 ). Two drains were inserted into the left thorax and auto-transfusion was performed. He was transferred to intensive care unit for further stabilisation, but it was decided to perform surgery because of persistent bleeding from chest drains. At operation, a tear was discovered at the left posterolateral aspect of the previously implanted homograft and the valved stent was removed. A size 22 Hancock® conduit was implanted and patch plasty of the proximal left pulmonary artery performed.


Figure 1
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  		Fig. 1. (a) Stent placed into calcified homograft. (b) Large left haemothorax with drains placed.

 
2.2 Case history 2
A 9-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of pulmonary atresia and VSD, major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCAs), anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from right coronary artery (RCA). He had a left BT shunt and later complete repair using the base of the left atrial appendage to fill the distance between pulmonary artery bifurcation and the right ventricle. He also had a right-sided unifoculisation procedure. A 20 mm stented valve was implanted and was initially in a good position. Upon withdrawal of the delivery system, the stent became dislodged and was displaced into the RV. The patient remained haemodynamically stable during the entire procedure and was transferred directly into the operating theatre for stent removal and implantation of a homograft.

2.3 Case history 3
A 37-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of congenital pulmonary stenosis, had an open pulmonary valvotomy at the age of 5 years followed by homograft implantation at the age of 32 years. The indication for PPV was significant regurgitation of the previously implanted homograft. The procedure was uneventful and a size 22 mm valve was implanted but the patient became unwell approximately 4 h after the procedure with signs of low cardiac output. Chest X-ray demonstrated tilting of the valve (Fig. 2 ) with echocardiographic and clinical signs of severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Adrenaline boluses were required to sustain cardiac output prior to transfer to the operating theatre. The right atrial pressure was measured at 40 mmHg shortly before cardiopulmonary bypass. At surgery, the percutaneous valve was replaced with a Hancock® conduit.


Figure 2
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  		Fig. 2. (a) Stent implanted in the RVOT. (b) Stent tilted obstructing the RVOT.

 
2.4 Case history 4
A 19-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of common arterial trunk (CAT) who had repair with a 12 mm pulmonary homograft in the neonatal period.

Before implantation, she had moderate stenosis and regurgitation with half systemic RV pressures. An 18 mm system was implanted, but an angiogram demonstrated no flow into the right pulmonary artery. Patient was transferred to the operating theatre with stable haemodynamics for explantation of the device and implantation of a pulmonary homograft.

2.5 Case history 5
A 9-year-old female patient with dextrocardia, congenitally corrected transposition (CCTGA), double outlet right ventricle (DORV), pulmonary stenosis, VSD. She had a Mustard procedure with VSD closure and homograft from the right ventricle to pulmonary artery at the age of 2 years. An 18 mm stent was later placed due to homograft stenosis at the age of 4.

After deployment of an 18 mm percutaneous valve there was sudden LV failure. External cardiac massage was started. An aortic root injection demonstrated initially no flow into the LCA. After 25 min of cardiac massage, the stent became compressed and flow to the LCA was restored (Fig. 3 ). She was transferred directly into the operating theatre. The percutaneous valve was replaced with a size 22 mm pulmonary homograft.


Figure 3
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  		Fig. 3. (a) Stent implanted in homograft with occlusion of LCA on aortic contrast injection. (b) Flow into LCA restored after cardiac massage.

 
2.6 Case history 6
A 13-year-old female with the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve repaired in the neonatal period with closure of the VSD and implantation of a 16 mm pulmonary homograft. At repeated surgery at the age of 13 months, the homograft was replaced and her pulmonary arteries were plicated. She came for percutaneous valve implantation with significant homograft stenosis and moderate regurgitation.

A 20 mm device was chosen and deployed successfully. Shortly after implantation, her blood pressure started to drop. Repeat screening revealed a large right haemothorax. Drains were placed and in total 1900 ml blood was auto-transfused. She was transferred directly to the operating theatre for exploration. The valved stent was left in situ and the area of the junction between the right and main pulmonary artery reinforced with plicating sutures.


   3. Results
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
4. Discussion
 5. Summary
 Appendix A
 References
 
3.1 Perioperative data of the six pts undergoing ERS are summarised in Table 2
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation requiring external cardiac massage and/or administration of adrenaline boluses to sustain cardiac output was necessary in three patients. Massive haemorrhage was treated with auto-transfusion in two patients; 1900 and 1000 ml was auto-transfused, respectively. Patients were transferred into the operating theatre after initial stabilisation in the catheterisation laboratory after a median of 30 min (30–320).


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  		Table 2 Perioperative patient's data
 
Rescue surgery: Cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted through femoral cannulation after surgical exposure of groin vessels in two out of six patients. All operations were performed under mild hypothermia (32–34 °C). The mean bypass time was 78 ± 13.4 min.

The percutaneous valve was explanted in five patients and was replaced with aortic or pulmonary homograft in three patients with standard technical principles of pulmonary valve replacement applied [1]. Two patients received a valved conduit (Hancock®, Medtronic Ltd.). In one patient, a contained defect in the homograft was presumed at the distal end of the homograft at the junction to the right pulmonary artery. This area was repaired with plicating sutures and the valve was left in situ.

Early outcome: All patients survived. One patient (patient 1) sustained a neurological insult consisting of bulbar weakness with speech difficulty and temporary upper limb weakness. On EEG, there were no signs of focal seizure activity and on MRI no gross abnormality could be revealed. The mean intensive care unit stay was 5.5 ± 3.2 days.

Follow-up: Follow-up was complete in all patients with a mean of 25.2 ± 17.1 months.

On echocardiography, all patients have competent pulmonary valves with a velocity of 2.3 ± 0.4 m/s (mean value). Patient 3 is on antiarrhythmic medication at follow-up after 3 years due to atrial fibrillation/flutter and is scheduled to have radio frequency ablation. One patient (patient 1) has mild neurological impairment with learning difficulties.


   4. Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
5. Summary
 Appendix A
 References
 
Change in haemodynamic data following the implantation of a percutaneous pulmonary valve and also procedural and device related complications were described in previous publications [6,8]. Three significant early complications and seven minor complications were described in a group of 59 pts and this study also reported on device related adverse effects in 14 pts [8].

Mechanisms of acute PPVI failure: Upon reviewing the catheter implantation data, three different mechanisms of PPVI failure became apparent.

Firstly, there was dislodgement into a dilated right ventricular outflow tract in two of the patients. Another patient had a stent displaced into the distal pulmonary artery, which caused complete obstruction of the right pulmonary artery. With increasing experience in implanting percutaneous valve, patient selection and positioning of the device the incidence of this complication is likely to become less prevalent. Better understanding of complex geometry of the right ventricular outflow tract and its dynamics may also help to eliminate this complication mode [9].

Secondly, one patient suffered a compression of the LCA and as a result acute left heart failure. In retrospect, it became apparent that the previously implanted stent in the patient's homograft had not been brought to its full dimension of 18 mm.

Currently, all patients undergoing implantation have an aortic root injection to delineate coronary anatomy and its relationship to the right outflow tract.

Thirdly, the last complication encountered in our cohort was a ruptured homograft with resulting massive haemorrhage. PPVI relies on a strong platform to anchor the stented valve, which is mostly provided by a calcified homograft placed at previous surgery. There is inevitable interfering with the integrity of the homograft in all stenosed conduits upon implantation, but this is contained by the stent or surrounding fibrous tissue. In our opinion, factors such as unusual angles in the outflow tract, use of bicuspidised homografts are prone to homograft rupture and haemorrhagic complication. With increasing experience and contrary to our previous belief, the presence of a heavily calcified homograft is not a risk factor for rupture.

Management of acute PPVI failure: Three of the patients described had a potentially life-threatening complication. Upon reviewing, the anaesthetic protocols and operation notes important patterns of management of the complications encountered emerged.

Blood products have to be cross-matched and readily available for emergent perusal. Auto-transfusion played an important role in management of two patients with haemorrhagic complications. It is imperative to establish a reasonable safety margin/platform before urgent transfer to the operating theatre.

Operations on failed percutaneous valve implantations require a highly skilled surgical team and can pose significant technical difficulties. Almost all patients would have had multiple previous operations. The access to groin vessel cannulation can be hindered by previous catheterisations or implantation device in situ. Furthermore, the choice of a pulmonary valve substitute with known limitations of homograft availability on an emergency basis can be problematic. Biological valves or heterografts are often the only option.

Multidisciplinary approach to decision making: So far surgical replacement of pulmonary valve represents the gold standard in majority of paediatric cardiac centres. Surgical pulmonary valve replacement in our institution is reserved for pts with dilated outflow tracts that may also require additional procedures [1]. The surgery for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and the morbidity associated with repeated sternotomies is well described [10]. Risk of cardiac laceration at repeated sternotomy has been reported to be around 5% [11]. Limitations of the surgical approach are the durability and availability of an ideal pulmonary valve substitute. However, the issue of durability of pulmonary valve substitute also applies to the percutaneous valve. It is a bovine jugular valve and there is no reason why it should not be susceptible to valve degeneration and calcification [7]. PPVI is now limited to conduit stenosis and/or regurgitation. Current research on right ventricular outflow tract reducer is likely to extend the indications of this procedure to higher proportion of patients who underwent previous repair of tetralogy of Fallot and conditions where a competent pulmonary valve is required [12,13].

Review of outcome in interventional procedures such as percutaneous atrial septal defect closure and percutaneous aortic valve placement demonstrates that the surgical community should be prepared and take an active part in hybrid and transcatheter procedures [14,15]. To provide the best care for each individual patient, we must free ourselves from preconceived ideas, accept facts, integrate novelty and built a team concept, whilst sharing experience and expertise across the artificial boundaries of disciplines [16].


   5. Summary
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 5. Summary
Appendix A
 References
 
Although some of the complications of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation are related to a learning curve (4 among the first 50 pts and 2 among the last 102 pts) the need for emergency rescue surgery is unlikely to be completely abolished. Our experience highlights the importance of close collaboration between cardiologist and surgeons in these evolving technologies.


   Appendix A
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 5. Summary
 Appendix A
References
 
Conference discussion

Dr C. Schreiber (Munich, Germany): I think, very importantly, when I read your paper, and you stressed it in your last slide, you are using this technology at your institution now with a very high rate of success. Many of these complications happen in the early phase. The company is currently selling the valve very cautiously to be used in selected patients and teaches interventionalists or surgeons to use this new technology in an as safe as possible way. We know from CoreValve and Edwards and their preliminary results on interventional aortic valve replacement that they act likewise. I think you clearly made a point, and the message comes across in the paper, that any new technologies must be used with care and that a team approach is warranted. Maybe you could elucidate once again to the audience, because I think that is crucial, what it actually took to reoperate? You were a bit casual when you mentioned you took only around 30 min on average to open them up. Maybe you can share with us how difficult it was actually or what your tricks were to reopen these patients who often had multiple previous surgeries. This would then be our take home message.

Dr Kostolny: As you mentioned, in terms of patient selection, there is always a multidisciplinary approach to this. As you correctly pointed out operations in those patients can pose significant technical difficulties. All of them will have at least one previous operation. Surgical approach can be also a problem since the femoral vessels can be blocked from previous catheterisations or the delivery system of the device itself can be still in situ. Thirdly, availability of homografts on an emergency basis can be a problem and, as you have seen, we used heterografts in two of our patients. I would like to stress that it's very important to stabilize the patient. Therefore, resuscitation of the patient in the cath lab is very important before moving on and operating on them.

Dr A. Corno (Liverpool, United Kingdom): I have a very quick question. Can you please define exactly what do you mean by surgical backup? Is it a consultant surgeon available in the hospital or a free theatre to be readily available or a cardiopulmonary bypass machine with priming available? What is the level of surgical standby you require for this procedure?

Dr Kostolny: The first thing you mentioned, I’m going to expand on that. Initially in our experience, there was a surgical backup with a cardiac theatre booked if you had a percutaneous pulmonary valve explantation, but what we learned, and I hope I was able to demonstrate that, you have to stabilize the patient before moving on and operating on them. There is nevertheless always a consultant surgeon in hospital during valve implantation and the theatre is not booked.

Dr W. Ruschewski (Goettingen, Germany): What's the reason that you use Hancock® valves and not Contegras? It's the same as your Melody.

Dr Kostolny: Personally, I think that they are prone to dilation and it is not my preference to use Contegras. I would rather use a heterograft.

Dr J. Comas (Madrid, Spain): I have only a curiosity. What is the psychologic direction of your cardiologists in these situations?

Dr Kostolny: Although it's the work of a cardiologist, the decision to implant a percutaneous valve is made by a team, and as a team, we have to select the patients, but we also have to deal with the complications together.


   Footnotes
 
{star} Presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Geneva, Switzerland, September 16–19, 2007.

{star}{star} Disclosure: Dr Bonhoeffer is a consultant to Medtronic.


   References
Top
 Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Patients and methods
 3. Results
 4. Discussion
 5. Summary
 Appendix A
 References
 

  1. Ghez O, Tsang VT, Frigiola A, Coats L, Taylor A, Van Doorn C, Bonhoeffer P, De Leval M. Right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction for pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Preliminary results. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007;31(4 (Apr.)):654-658.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. Warner KG, Anderson JE, Fulton DR, Payne DD, Geggel RL, Marx GR. Restoration of the pulmonary valve reduces right ventricular volume overload after previous repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Circulation 1993;88(5 Pt 2 (Nov.)):II189-II197.[Medline]
  3. Eyskens B, Reybrouck T, Bogaert J, Dymarkowsky S, Daenen W, Dumoulin M, Gewillig M. Homograft insertion for pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot improves cardiorespiratory exercise performance. Am J Cardiol 2000;85(2 (Jan. 15)):221-225.[CrossRef][Medline]
  4. Bonhoeffer P, Boudjemline Y, Qureshi SA, Le Bidois J, Iserin L, Acar P, Merckx J, Kachaner J, Sidi D. Percutaneous insertion of the pulmonary valve. J Am Coll Cardiol 2002;39(10 (May 15)):1664-1669.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  5. Bonhoeffer P, Boudjemline Y, Saliba Z, Merckx J, Aggoun Y, Bonnet D, Acar P, Le Bidois J, Sidi D, Kachaner J. Percutaneous replacement of pulmonary valve in a right-ventricle to pulmonary-artery prosthetic conduit with valve dysfunction. Lancet 2000;356(9239 (Oct. 21)):1403-1405.[CrossRef][Medline]
  6. Coats L, Tsang V, Khambadkone S, van Doorn C, Cullen S, Deanfield J, de Leval MR, Bonhoeffer P. The potential impact of percutaneous pulmonary valve stent implantation on right ventricular outflow tract re-intervention. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;27(4 (Apr.)):536-543.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  7. Khambadkone S, Nordmeyer J, Bonhoeffer P. Percutaneous implantation of the pulmonary and aortic valves: indications and limitations. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2007;8(1 (Jan.)):57-61.[Medline]
  8. Khambadkone S, Coats L, Taylor A, Boudjemline Y, Derrick G, Tsang V, Cooper J, Muthurangu V, Hegde SR, Razavi RS, Pellerin D, Deanfield J, Bonhoeffer P. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in humans: results in 59 consecutive patients. Circulation 2005;112(8 (Aug. 23)):1189-1197.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  9. Armillotta A, Bonhoeffer P, Dubini G, Ferragina S, Migliavacca F, Sala G, Schievano S. Use of rapid prototyping models in the planning of percutaneous pulmonary-valved stent implantation. Proc Inst Mech Eng [H] 2007;221(4 (May)):407-416.[Medline]
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  11. Russell JL, LeBlanc JG, Sett SS, Potts JE. Risk of repeat sternotomy in pediatric cardiac operations. Ann Thorac Surg 1998;66:1575-1578.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  12. Boudjemline Y, Agnoletti G, Bonnet D, Sidi D, Bonhoeffer P. Percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement in a large right ventricular outflow tract: an experimental study. J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;43(6 (Mar. 17)):1082-1087.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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  14. Walther T, Binner C, Rastan A, Dähnert I, Doll N, Falk V, Mohr FW, Kostelka M. Surgical atrial septal defect closure after interventional occluder placement: incidence and outcome. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134(3 (Sept.)):731-737.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  15. Walther T, Mohr FW. Aortic valve surgery: time to be open-minded and to rethink. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007;31(1 (Jan.)):4-6.[Free Full Text]
  16. Marco J., The Surgeons meet the cardiologists at EuroPCR, Editorial, for and on behalf of EuroPCR Board of directors.



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