Pediatric catheter interventions: a year in review 2004-2005

The fields of pediatric and congenital cardiac interventions continue to expand at a rapid pace. The last few years have witnessed a tremendous explosion in procedures such as the transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defects, patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus, stent placement for pulmonary artery stenosis, and coarctation of the aorta. The purpose of this review is to highlight important publications in the last year and the direction the field is taking.

Research data over the last year has concentrated on six main themes: (a) mid-to-long-term data for device closure of atrial septal defects, the incidence of late cardiac erosions, thrombus formation and heart block; (b) the transcatheter closure of muscular ventricular septal defects; (c) the transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects; (d) the placement of bioprosthetic valves in the pulmonary and aortic positions; (e) the 'hybrid' approach that combines surgical and interventional techniques in the management of various congenital cardiac defects; and (f) fetal interventions.

This review outlines the key data presented in the literature involving interventional cardiology for pediatric and congenital cardiac defects over the last year. It illustrates that in close collaboration with industry, together with bioengineers and cardiothoracic surgeons, adult cardiac interventionists and perinatologists should continue to expand the role of pediatric catheter interventions. Fetal interventions have the potential to alter the natural history of abnormal cardiac development.