Left atrial unloading with an 8  mm septal cutting balloon to treat postcapillary pulmonary hypertension: a case report

We report the case of a 58-year-old female with severe postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (averaged mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 49  mmHg, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure 29 mmHg, and right atrial pressure 8 mmHg) due to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. A left-to-right atrial shunt was created using an 8 mm cutting balloon, under transesophageal echocardiography guidance. Both pulmonary arterial and wedge pr essure dramatically decreased after the procedure. Symptoms immediately improved and benefits were sustained at 6 months of follow-up. This case suggests that iatrogenic septal defect using a cutting balloon could be an option to treat symptomatic postcapillary pulmonary hypertension.
Source: ESC Heart Failure - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Case Report Source Type: research