Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Catheter-based Endovascular Angioplasty for Fibrosing Mediastinitis-associated Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
Published on: August 26, 2025
Successful Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement Via the Azygous Vein in a Patient With Interrupted Inferior Vena
Kathryn L Forbes1, Lourdes Prieto2, Daniel Duarte-Caceres2
1Pediatric Cardiology Fellow, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA.
Background:
In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve System (Medtronic) for the treatment of pulmonary valve regurgitation in pediatric and adult populations with a native or surgically repaired right ventricular outflow tract, thus extending transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement to accommodate larger native right ventricular outflow tract anatomies.
Case Summary:
We present the case of a 15-year-old female with a history of heterotaxy, transannular patch repair of double outlet right ventricle, bilateral superior vena cava, interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC), who presented with progressive right ventricular dilation and reduced endurance by cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
Discussion:
The most common way of delivering the Harmony valve is through the femoral venous approach. When the patient's anatomy precludes femoral venous access, such as vascular occlusions or an interrupted IVC, an alternative option is essential.
Take-Home Message:
Deployment of the Harmony valve without a DrySeal sheath through the femoral vein to the azygous vein pathway is feasible in patients with interrupted IVC and lack of internal jugular access.
More Related Videos
06:04Upper-extremity Approach for Secondary Access in Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Published on: August 8, 2025
05:31Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement from Autologous Pericardium with a Self-Expandable Nitinol Stent in an Adult Sheep Model
Published on: June 8, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Veins of Thorax
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...