Use of a Ventricular Septal Defect Occluder for Apical Closure in Transapical Aortic Valve Replacement

We describe the successful use of a 9-mm myocardial occluder (ventricular septal defect occluder) that was used to seal the apex after a standard TA-TAVR (using the Sapien XT 23-mm transcatheter valve and the Ascendra + delivery system). The placement of the nonmodified myocardial occluder was performed through the Ascendra + delivery system, with a very small amount of blood loss and an acceptable sealing of the apical tear. This approach is feasible and represents a further step toward true-percutaneous transapical heart valve procedures. Modified apical occluders are under evaluation in animal models.
Source: Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research