Transcatheter closure of shunt anomalies: experience in a Bangladeshi center

  • Dr Fatema Begum, Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh
  • Background:
    Congenital heart disease occurrence is 25/1000 live birth in Bangladesh which is very high compared to many countries. About 48% of CHD is contributed by VSD, ASD and PDA. We have started closure of PDA in our country back in 1999, ASD in 2001 and VSD in 2004.

    Objective:
    Objective of this study is to show the outcome of these procedures in a developing country like Bangladesh where resources are limited.

    Methods:
    This is a retrospective study carried out in pediatric cardiology unit of Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka from January 1999 to November 2008. All the patients who were taken into the cath lab with an intention of device closure are included in the study.

    Results:

    Among a total of 582 cases,180 were attempted for ASD device closure where 169(93.89%) cases were successful. VSD device closure was attempted in 32 cases and 30(93.75%) were successful. PDA coil/device closure was attempted in 370 cases and 363 of them were successful(98.1%). In ASD and VSD cases there was one case of embolization for each.

    5 cases of PDA coil embolization was experienced which were later removed and a bigger device was implanted.

    All patients were discharged 24 hours after procedure excepting VSD cases in which discharge followed 72 hours after procedure.

    Conclusion:
    Device Closure of shunt anomalies is an excellent modality of treatment for closing ASD, VSD and PDA. Outcome of these interventions are excellent in out center and we never encountered any complications during follow up of these cases.