Intracardiac Echocardiography in Structural Heart Disease Interventions

Intracardiac echocardiography has historically been used to guide a limited number of transcatheter cardiac interventions. However, the tremendous advances in structural heart disease interventions in the last decade led to a growing interest in intracardiac echocardiography as a potential alternative to transesophageal echocardiography that mitigates the need for endotracheal intubation. Nonetheless, the scarcity of data, the imperfection of the current probes, and the limited experience among operators prevented a wider adoption of this technology. This review summarizes the contemporary relevant evidence and provides the structural interventionalist with an illustrative guide on the use of intracardiac echocardiography to guide various structural heart interventions.     

Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure With the Ultraseal Device: Insights From the Initial Multicenter Experience

Objectives

This study sought to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the Ultraseal device for left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) (Cardia, Eagan, Minnesota) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at high bleeding risk.

Intracardiac Versus Transesophageal Echocardiographic Guidance for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: The LAAO Italian Multicenter Registry

Objectives

This study sought to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE)–guided versus transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)–guided left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) by the use of Amplatzer Cardiac Plug or Amulet devices included in a large Italian registry.

Use of Intracardiac Compared With Transesophageal Echocardiography for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in the Amulet Observational Study

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare patient and procedural characteristics, clinical events, and left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion rates among implantation procedures guided either by intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) or by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the Amulet Observational Study.BackgroundTEE is standard for intraprocedural imaging during LAA occlusion. ICE is an alternative enabling local rather than general anesthesia.MethodsThe Amulet Observational Study is a prospective, multicenter, post-market study of the Amulet device in patients with atrial fibrillation at risk for thromboembolism from the LAA. Procedures were guided by ICE in the left atrium or TEE. A clinical events committee adjudicated serious adverse events. LAA closure was assessed by a core laboratory 1 to 3 months post-implantation.ResultsNine hundred fifty-five procedures were TEE guided and 130 (12%) were ICE guided. Local anesthesia was used in 93% of ICE-guided cases. Implantation success was >99% in both groups (p = 1.00). The procedure was longer (40 ± 31 min vs. 33 ± 21 min; p = 0.01) and contrast use higher (145 ± 157 ml vs. 98 ± 76 ml; p < 0.01) for ICE cases. LAA closure rate was 100% using ICE and 98% using TEE. Vascular access serious adverse events occurred in 0.8% of ICE patients and 1.5% of TEE patients (p = 0.52). Pericardial effusions or tamponade was observed at rates of 2.5% per year and 1.7% per year in ICE and TEE patients, respectively (p = 0.57). Rates of ischemic stroke (4.1% per year vs. 2.6% per year; p = 0.37) and major bleeding (8.2% per year vs. 10.6% per year; p = 0.44) did not differ significantly between ICE and TEE patients.ConclusionsAmulet LAA occlusion procedures guided by ICE and TEE resulted in comparable clinical event and LAA closure rates, without differences in procedural or vascular complications despite longer procedures and more contrast use.     

Left atrial appendage septae not visualized with transesophageal echocardiography.

Left atrial appendage (LAA) filter implantation was attempted in an 89 year old male. The LAA size was estimated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Complete LAA obliteration was not achieved. LAA angiography suggested that the LAA was multilobed, likely separated by a thin septae not seen with TEE. MRI or CT may be more appropriate imaging modalities to define LAA anatomy.     

Roles of Transesophageal Echocardiography and Cardiac Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Left Atrial Thrombus and Associated Pathology: A Review and Critical Analysis

Evaluation of the left atrium and left atrial appendage for the presence of thrombus prior to cardioversion and pulmonary vein isolation, and of the entire heart for embolic sources in the setting of cryptogenic stroke, has long been standard medical care. Guidelines have uniformly recommended transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to accomplish these goals. In recent years, computed tomographic angiography has demonstrated diagnostic accuracy similar to that of TEE for the detection of thrombus. Analysis of the pertinent data and relative merits of the 2 technologies leads to the conclusions that: 1) both modalities have some unique, nonoverlapping capabilities that may dictate their use in specific situations; 2) computed tomographic angiography is a reasonable alternative to TEE when the primary aim is to exclude left atrial and left atrial appendage thrombus and in patients in whom the risks associated with TEE outweigh the benefits; and 3) both options should be discussed with the patient in the setting of shared decision making.     

Direct Current Cardioversion of Atrial Arrhythmias in Adults With Cardiac Amyloidosis

Background

Arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and intracardiac thrombus are common in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA). Outcomes of direct-current cardioversion (DCCV) for atrial arrhythmias in patients with CA are unknown.

Initial Feasibility Study of a New Transcatheter Mitral Prosthesis: The First 100 Patients

Background

Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a rapidly evolving therapy. Follow-up of TMVR patients remains limited in duration and number treated.

Radiation Exposure of Operators Performing Transesophageal Echocardiography During Percutaneous Structural Cardiac Interventions

Background

Transesophageal echocardiography operators (TEEOP) provide critical imaging support for percutaneous structural cardiac intervention procedures. They stand close to the patient and the associated scattered radiation.

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Correlates of Clinical Risk of Thromboembolism in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Objectives. This study explored the mechanisms linking clinical and precordial echocardiographic predictors to thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation (AF) by assessing transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) correlations.

Background. Clinical predictors of thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular AF have been identified, but their mechanistic links remain unclear. TEE provides imaging of the left atrium, its appendage and the proximal thoracic aorta, potentially clarifying stroke mechanisms in patients with AF.

Methods. Cross-sectional analysis of TEE features correlated with low, moderate and high thromboembolic risk during aspirin therapy among 786 participants undergoing TEE on entry into the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation III trial.

Results. TEE features independently associated with increased thromboembolic risk were appendage thrombi (relative risk [RR] 2.5, p = 0.04), dense spontaneous echo contrast (RR 3.7, p < 0.001), left atrial appendage peak flow velocities ≤20 cm/s (RR 1.7, p = 0.008) and complex aortic plaque (RR 2.1, p < 0.001). Patients with AF with a history of hypertension (conferring moderate risk) more frequently had atrial appendage thrombi (RR 2.6, p < 0.001) and reduced flow velocity (RR 1.8, p = 0.003) than low risk patients. Among low risk patients, those with intermittent AF had similar TEE features to those with constant AF.

Conclusions. TEE findings indicative of atrial stasis or thrombosis and of aortic atheroma were independently associated with high thromboembolic risk in patients with AF. The increased stroke risk associated with a history of hypertension in AF appears to be mediated primarily through left atrial stasis and thrombi. The presence of complex aortic plaque distinguished patients with AF at high risk from those at moderate risk of thromboembolism.     

Safety of Transesophageal Echocardiography to Guide Structural Cardiac Interventions

BackgroundDespite the widespread use of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to guide structural cardiac interventions, studies evaluating safety in this context are lacking.ObjectivesThis study sought to determine the incidence, types of complications, and factors associated with esophageal or gastric lesions following TEE manipulation during structural cardiac interventions.MethodsThis was a prospective study including 50 patients undergoing structural cardiac interventions in which TEE played a central role in guiding the procedure (mitral and tricuspid valve repair, left atrial appendage closure, and paravalvular leak closure). An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed before and immediately after the procedure to look for new injuries that might have arisen during the course of the intervention. Patients were divided in 2 cohorts according to the type of injury: complex lesions (intramural hematoma, mucosal laceration) and minor lesions (petechiae, ecchymosis). The factors associated with an increased risk of complications were assessed.ResultsPost-procedural EGD showed a new injury in 86% (n = 43 of 50) of patients, with complex lesions accounting for 40% (n = 20 of 50) of cases. Patients with complex lesions presented more frequently with an abnormal baseline EGD (70% vs. 37%; p = 0.04) and had a higher incidence of post-procedural dysphagia or odynophagia (40% vs. 10%; p = 0.02). Independent factors associated with an increased risk of complex lesions were a longer procedural time under TEE manipulation (for each 10-min increment in imaging time, odds ratio: 1.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.59) and poor or suboptimal image quality (odds ratio: 4.93; 95% confidence interval: 1.10 to 22.02).ConclusionsMost patients undergoing structural cardiac interventions showed some form of injury associated with TEE, with longer procedural time and poor or suboptimal image quality determining an increased risk. Imaging experts performing this technique should be aware of the nature of potential complications, to take the necessary precautions to prevent their occurrence and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.