Transcatheter Closure of Ventricular Septal Defects after Upfront Transvenous Antegrade Cannulation from the Right...

Transcatheter closure (TCC) of certain ventricular septal defect (VSD) subtypes typically requires arteriovenous loop (AVL) formation or retrograde transarterial deployment. Upfront transvenous cannulation from the right ventricle avoids arterial access and loop-related complications. We retrospectively reviewed data of patients who underwent TCC for perimembranous, intraconal, and post-surgical residual VSDs at our institution (January 2019-December 2023). Patients receiving upfront transvenous VSD cannulation and closure were compared to those undergoing antegrade closure after AVL formation. Upfront retrograde closure cases were excluded. In a cohort of 163 patients, upfront transvenous cannulation was performed in 116 (71%) and AVL formation in 31 (19%). Upfront transvenous cannulation use increased from 25.6% in 2019 to 93% in 2023. For the upfront group, the median patient age was 55 months (IQR, 17.8-120.8), median weight was 15.8 kg (IQR, 9.6-29.8), indexed VSD size was 9.2 mm/m² (IQR, 5.5-14.8), and 68.9% had pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cannulation was successful in 83.6% (97/116) of cases, with a switch to retrograde transarterial cannulation in 16.4% (19/116). No deaths or pacemaker implantations occurred. Compared to AVL group, upfront group had significantly shorter procedural times (p = 0.002) and lower radiation exposure (p < 0.001). Smaller patient weight (OR: 0.97, 95%CI: 0.95-0.99), larger indexed VSD size to patient weight (OR: 36.5, 95%CI: 2.49-533.9) and to BSA (OR: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.06-1.4) were significant independent predictors for successful transvenous cannulation. Upfront transvenous VSD cannulation simplifies transvenous TCC by eliminating the need for arterial access and AVL formation, particularly successful in small patients with large defects.