Transhepatic cardiac catheterization in children. Evaluation of efficacy and safety

In some children with congenital heart disease, conventional venous access is unavailable for cardiac catheterization. This study investigates a novel transhepatic venous approach to cardiac catheterization in children and evaluates its efficacy and safety.

Percutaneous transhepatic puncture was performed using a 22-gauge Chiba needle under fluoroscopic guidance. After wire exchanges were performed, a 5F to 8F sheath was positioned in the low right atrium and cardiac catheterization was performed. On completion of the catheterization, the sheath was withdrawn and a 3-mm steel coil was placed in the parenchymal tract between the hepatic vein and liver capsule. Liver enzyme studies were obtained before and after transhepatic catheterization, and an abdominal ultrasound was performed to evaluate the liver 24 hours after the procedure. Percutaneous transhepatic cardiac catheterization was performed successfully in 17 of 18 children in whom it was attempted. Patient age was 30 +/- 8 months (mean +/- SEM; range, 1 day to 9 years), weight was 10.5 +/- 1.5 kg (3.1 to 27.5 kg), and mean right atrial pressure was 10 +/- 1 mm Hg (5 to 19 mm Hg). Time from initial needle puncture to right atrial entry was 6.2 +/- 1.2 minutes. Diagnostic catheterization was performed successfully in all 17 children, and additional interventional procedures were performed in 5 children. The total catheterization time was 2.0 +/- 0.2 hours. Serum aspartate aminotransferase increased from 57 +/- 15 to 78 +/- 8 IU/L (P = .06), but alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase did not change. Ultrasound was performed 24 hours after transhepatic catheterization, and no evidence was found in any patient of hemorrhage or subcapsular hematoma.

These data suggest that this novel transhepatic approach provides an effective and safe route for diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization in children.