TRANSSEPTAL LEFT HEART CATHETERIZATION.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
BACKGROUND: Right-heart-catheterization and transthoracic echocardiography are routine tests to measure pulmonary artery systolic pressure among lung transplantation candidates. Echocardiography may be as accurate as right-heart-catheterization, without the inherent risks of an invasive test. METHODS: We examined the correlation between pulmonary pressures estimated by echocardiography versus right-heart-catheterization among lung transplantation candidates and their correlation to measurements during lung transplantation. Our cohort included all lung transplantation candidates during 1997 through 2004 who initially underwent pulmonary pressure evaluation by right-heart-catheterization and echocardiography, as well as measurements during lung transplantation. RESULTS: Of the 106 candidates, evaluation by transthoracic echocardiography was possible in 79 (74.5%). Median pulmonary systolic pressures by right-heart-catheterization was 44.0 [33.2-50.0] mm Hg and by echocardiography 40.0 [32.5-51.5] mm Hg (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001). In 14 (17.7%) patients the difference between the 2 methods was > 20 mm Hg. The median time interval between echocardiography and right-heart-catheterization was 65 [40-155] days. The median value of pulmonary systolic pressure measured during lung transplantation in 44 (70.1%) of 62 patients was 39.5 [31.0-50.0] mm Hg. The time interval right-heart-catheterization-to-lung transplantation was 143 [87-339] days and echocardiography-to-lung transplantation 229 [130-367] days. The correlation between measurements during lung transplantation and initial measurements by right-heart-catheterization and echocardiography were r = 0.50 and r = 0.31, respectively, with corresponding p values of p = 0.001 and p = 0.07. CONCLUSIONS: For lung transplantation candidates and a suitable transthoracic echocardiography estimate of pulmonary systolic pressure, the need for right-heart catheterization, with its inherent risks for complications, may be foregone. The weak correlation between the initial and intraoperative measurements, probably stemming from the significant time interval, suggests that serial measurements may be needed.
Transseptal left heart catheterization was performed in 106 instances in 101 patients using right anterior oblique fluoroscopy to define septal boundaries during interatrial septal puncture, and using a preshaped guide wire to catheterize the left ventricle. By using these two modifications of the classic transseptal technique, the left atrium was entered in 105 instances (99%) and the left ventricle was catheterized in all 87 attempts (100%), including attempts in eight patients with mitral stenosis (valve area 1.29 +/- 0.39 cm2 [mean +/- standard deviation] ). No deaths occurred as a direct result of transseptal catheterization; nonfatal complications occurred in 2.8% of patients (hemopericardium in one patient, ventricular fibrillation in one patient and transient vagal reaction in one patient). The use of the right anterior oblique projection to adequately visualize both the interatrial septum and the intended point of puncture, the use of a pigtail catheter positioned in the ascending aorta to define the relation of the puncture site to the aorta in this projection and the utilization of a flexible preshaped guide wire to catheterize the left ventricle are the major factors contributing toward this improved success rate and low incidence of complications.
Right heart catheterization (RHC) has remained the gold standard in diagnosing elevated cardiac filling pressures. Despite advances in medical therapy, patients with persistent volume overload and heart failure (HF) have a poor prognosis. The diagnosis of volume overload can be difficult in advanced HF with clinical symptoms and signs often lacking sensitivity and specificity. Hemodynamic measurements at rest, especially pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and change in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, have been closely linked to prognosis. However, RHC is invasive with attendant risks of complications. Noninvasive models without using catheterization-derived values have been shown to be equally predictive of survival. In selected clinical situations, especially the cardiorenal syndrome, RHC continues to play an important role. Newer invasive and noninvasive techniques to assess volume status are available, but large prospective trials are lacking. The advantage with continuous hemodynamic monitoring could be the development of an early warning system prior to the onset of symptomatic decompensation.
Whether catheterization of the right heart should be performed routinely in all patients undergoing coronary angiography for assessment of coronary artery disease is controversial. To objectively assess the utility of routine right heart catheterization, hemodynamic data from 2,178 patients studied for angina having no signs, symptoms, or history of congestive heart failure were analyzed retrospectively. The salient results are as follows: 0.9% patients had unsuspected mitral valve gradients greater than or equal to 5 mm Hg; 0.4% had occult left-to-right shunts; 1% had pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure greater than or equal to 40 mm Hg) not attributable to an elevated mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP); 4.8% had PCWP greater than or equal to 18 mm Hg; 6% had cardiac indexes less than or equal to 2.0 L/min/m2, suggesting subclinical left ventricular failure. Overall, 14.5% of patients had at least one abnormal right-sided hemodynamic variable revealed by right heart catheterization. The frequency of abnormalities increased with increasing Canadian Cardiovascular Society grade of angina. Ten percent of grade 1, 14% of grade 2, 15% of grade 3, and 19% of patient 4 patients had at least one abnormality (phi 2 test, p less than or equal to 0.005). It is concluded that the right heart catheterization adds an important dimension to the diagnosis and treatment of patients undergoing coronary angiography for assessment of coronary artery disease and might significantly influence subsequent patient management.
Because there are no definitive guidelines for performing right heart catheterizations or controlled clinical trials demonstrating medical benefit, the value and necessity of performing routine right heart catheterizations for coronary artery disease have been questioned. This Texas Medical Foundation Health Care Quality Improvement Program project was designed to ensure medical necessity and proper documentation of right heart catheterization when performed as part of a bilateral procedure. Medicare claims data were used to identify Texas facilities where rates of bilateral catheterizations suggested that right heart catheterizations were being performed routinely. Five facilities were found to have rates of bilateral procedures exceeding 70%. Suggested guidelines for performing right heart catheterizations were prepared by the Texas Medical Association Committee on Cardiovascular Diseases. These guidelines, together with the facility's data on its rate of right heart catheterizations, were presented by the Texas Medical Foundation to the staff of each facility. They were asked to examine their individual facility's procedures for ensuring medical necessity and to develop and implement process improvement plans. Medicare claims data were analyzed to determine the rates of bilateral catheterizations before and after the plans were instituted. The statewide rate of bilateral procedures decreased from 27.2% to 21.3% (p < 0.005). Rate reductions for 4 facilities implementing improvement plans were statistically significant (p < 0.001): at the 1st facility, the rate decreased from 74.3% to 25.0%; at the 2nd, from 85.0% to 21.0%; at the 3rd, from 76.7% to 17.7%; and at the 4th facility, from 85.4% to 42.9%. The rate for the facility not implementing an improvement plan increased from 86.4% to 89.1%. Reductions in rates of bilateral procedures at the 4 facilities suggest that many procedures previously performed were routine and not medically indicated. Presentation of data and practice guidelines to facilities may have contributed to their ability to improve processes.
The recent interest in transseptal left heart catheterization affords an opportunity to review the development and application of this procedure. This review briefly follows the history of right and left heart catheterization to the development of the transseptal procedure. A detailed description of the technique of transseptal catheterization is provided, as well as the indications and contraindications to its use. A learning curve is associated with this technique and is inversely related to the complication rate of the transseptal approach. Physicians working in high volume catheterization laboratories may gain the experience to safely perform transseptal left heart catheterization on carefully selected patients.
Left heart catheterization using the transbronchial route to obtain pressures in the left atrium and left ventricle was used successfully in 29 cases with no mortality or morbidity. It was found to be useful in differentiating between mitral stenosis and mitral insufficiency, as well as determining the amount of aortic stenosis present when there was involvement of the aortic valve. The technique was also helpful in determining which is the predominant lesion when there is a disease of the aortic and mitral valves. In two patients in a series of 29, data obtained by left heart catheterization forestalled operation on the basis of a mistaken diagnosis of mitral stenosis when actually no mitral valvular disease was present. In another eight patients, the predominant lesion was found to be mitral stenosis rather than mitral insufficiency as it was thought to be before catheterization. In two patients, who had only systolic murmurs, catheterization revealed mitral stenosis rather than mitral insufficiency. In four patients who were thought to have mixed valvular disease, left heart catheterization showed only aortic valvular disease.
We suspected that patients with severe chronic heart failure may show hemodynamic changes after cardiac catheterization in the absence of drug therapy that could complicate assessment of the hemodynamic effects of new vasodilator and inotropic agents. To evaluate this phenomenon prospectively, hemodynamic variables were measured in 21 patients with heart failure 30 min and 2, 6, 24, and (in 12 patients) 48 hr after right heart catheterization, during which time therapy was not altered. During the first 2 hr we noted a significant increase in cardiac index and decreases in left ventricular filling pressure, mean arterial pressure, mean right atrial pressure, and systemic vascular resistance (p less than .01); a further decline in left ventricular filling pressure was noted over the next 24 hr, after which all hemodynamic variables remained stable. The magnitude of these hemodynamic changes resembled the effects of many established vasodilator drugs and was further enhanced after meals. These data indicate that hemodynamic improvement may be observed without any therapeutic intervention during the course of invasive studies in patients with severe chronic heart failure; such changes may lead investigators to attribute efficacy to ineffective drug therapy. To minimize the occurrence of such responses, we recommend that intravascular catheters be inserted the day before drug evaluation and that hemodynamic measurements be made with patients in a postprandial state.
UNLABELLED: Transseptal left heart catheterization has been performed as an alternative to the retrograde approach since 1958. However, this procedure can result in life-threatening complications, some of which may occur because of insufficient anatomical landmarks. Accordingly, we sought to assess the safety and efficacy of a new transseptal left heart catheterization technique designed for ablation procedures. Specifically, we examined whether electrode catheters could be used as anatomical landmarks, permitting identification of the aortic root and other critical structures. RESULTS: One hundred and eight consecutive patients underwent transseptal left heart catheterization under biplane fluoroscopy during catheter ablation. Electrode catheters positioned in the right atrial appendage, His bundle region, and coronary sinus were used as anatomical landmarks to guide the transseptal unit to the fossa ovalis. The angles of the right anterior and left anterior oblique projections were selected in each patient based on the orientation of the His bundle and coronary sinus catheters. Transseptal left heart catheterization was successfully performed in all patients without complications. In contrast to previous reports, the direction of the needle at the successful puncture site in the last 96 patients varied substantially: 2 o'clock in 13 patients (13 %); 3 o'clock in 43 patients (45 %); and 4 o'clock in 40 patients (42 %). CONCLUSION: The use of electrode catheters as anatomical landmarks and biplane fluoroscopy facilitates transseptal catheterization. This approach can be used safely during catheter ablation procedures.
Quality management within the catheterization laboratory includes the quality control, the heart catheterization technique and the policy. Quality management is critical in the heart catheterization laboratory. Dedication of all members of the lab and computer personnel ensures high patient satisfaction. A continued quality improvement program is patient-orientated and requires good planning. One of the main emphasis in the catheterization lab is standardization which includes the patient preparation, the procedure itself, and the management. It is supported by teamwork including the economic aspect of prompt delivery of material and avoidance of complications. A continuous circle of treatment planes, performance, and check is regarded as the Deming cycle and leads to continuous improvement of quality. Important are both the avoidance and detection of complications. The reasons for any such have to be evaluated. It is recommended to follow the zero mistake hypothesis of Crosby, which means quality control by the lab supervisor, a quality consciousness, a quality measurement and quality improvement, as well as using a day to day quality improvement and to teach quality control. In Germany a quality control questionnaire was administered in an analysis of the current structure, function, and results of catheterization labs. Most important was the analysis of complications. The data were based on diagnostic catheterization in 1992, which included 140668 catheterizations in 83 laboratories. Thus, a mean of 1030 heart catheterizations was performed in each lab. In the mean, 200 catheterizations were performed by each doctor. In 19% of the labs digital imaging was exclusively performed. Major complications occurred with ventricular fibrillation in 0.36% (range 0.75%), resuscitation 0.18% (0.43%), persistent cerebrovascular accident 0.08% (0.24%), myocardial infarcts 0.19% (0.59%), aortic dissection 0.05% (0.22%). Mortality was 0.03% (0.08%). In heart catheterization laboratories quality management is one of the major goals for the future work. Only the continued improvement of quality and very good quality management ensure patient safety. Quality is the sum of technique and consciousness.
Indications for hemodynamic assessment by right heart catheterization include shock, pulmonary edema, severe trauma and sepsis. The introduction of the catheter and the location of the tip in the pulmonary artery, however, can cause severe complications. In the present study the incidence of complications was observed in 93 consecutive right heart catheterizations in critically ill patients with no evidence of recent myocardial infarction. The low incidence of complications during introduction and with the catheter tip located in the pulmonary artery justifies right heart catheterization in patients with hemodynamic and/or respiratory instability treated in an intensive care unit.