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Published on: December 23, 2014
Transhepatic catheterization using ultrasound-guided access
T A Johnston1, L F Donnelly, D P Frush
1Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA.
Insights
Ultrasound guidance for transhepatic access in cardiac catheterization is safe and effective. This study shows no complications in pediatric patients, offering a viable alternative when standard methods fail.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Interventional Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Transhepatic access is an alternative for cardiac catheterization when conventional routes fail.
- Ultrasound guidance for transhepatic access has not been previously reported.
- Establishing safe and effective venous access is crucial for cardiac procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound guidance for transhepatic access in cardiac catheterization.
- To evaluate the feasibility of this technique in a pediatric population.
- To assess complication rates associated with ultrasound-guided transhepatic access.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing transhepatic cardiac catheterization at Duke University Medical Center.
- Inclusion criteria: all patients who underwent transhepatic cardiac catheterization.
- Data collected: patient demographics, procedure indications, catheterization type, and complications.
Main Results:
- Eight pediatric patients underwent 12 transhepatic cardiac catheterizations.
- Median age was 5.3 years; median weight was 18.7 kg.
- Seven diagnostic and five interventional procedures were performed with no reported complications.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound guidance is a safe and effective method for transhepatic venous access during cardiac catheterization.
- This technique provides a reliable option for complex pediatric cardiac interventions.
- Further research can explore broader applications and long-term outcomes.
Abstract:
The efficacy and safety of ultrasound guidance to obtain transhepatic access for cardiac catheterization were investigated in this study. The transhepatic route for access to perform cardiac catheterization has become an acceptable alternative when conventional routes of access have failed. However, the use of ultrasound to guide transhepatic access has not been reported in the literature. We performed a retrospective chart review. Patient characteristics, indications for catheterization, procedures performed, and complications were recorded. All patients who underwent transhepatic cardiac catheterization at Duke University Medical Center were included in this study. Eight patients underwent 12 catheterizations. The median age was 5.3 years (range, 9 months to 13 years) and median weight 18.7 kg (range, 7.1-44.8 kg). Seven catheterizations were diagnostic and 5 were interventional. There were no complications. Transhepatic access with ultrasound guidance is a safe and effective option for obtaining venous access for cardiac catheterization.
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