[Interventional cardiology in children]

Interventional heart catheterizations are catheterizations for a therapeutic purpose. The widest spread example is the balloon atrioseptostomy (BAS) according to Rashkind, which is performed in patients with transposition of the great arteries preceding interatrial corrective surgery, in patients with right-sided valve atresias and interatrial obstruction and in patients with complex mitral atresia. In 248 BAS, performed within 20 years we observed 26 (= 10.5%) minor and 3 (= 1.2%) lethal complications. When the BAS is ineffective or the atrial septum very muscular, the Park-blade-septostomy may be performed, provided corrective surgery is out of question. intravasal foreign bodies, e.g. catheter fragments can be extracted without harm and risk by the Dotter retriever. This prevents grave complications. Arteriovenous aneurysms, coronary fistulas or aortopulmonary collaterals can be embolized by steel coils, detachable balloons or Ivalon particles. With increasing frequency patent ducts, seldom also atrial or ventricular septal defects are closed by means of the Rashkind occluder. Balloonvalvuloplasty (BVP) of pulmonary or aortic stenosis became generally accepted. In cooperative studies of the German Society of Pediatric Cardiology in 305 BVP's of pulmonary stenosis 4% complications with one late death have been observed. In aortic stenosis of children early mortality was 1.6%, complication rate 20%, in the critical aortis stenosis of infants early mortality was 19%, complication rate 50%. So BVP of pulmonary and non-critical aortic stenosis may be considered as the treatment of choice, while BVP of critical aortic stenosis and other stenosis of valves or vessels has to be further evaluated.