Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: a case report

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) has become an attractive method of dysfunctional right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) treatment [1]. We describe a unique case of a patient with a complex cyanotic heart defect, namely pulmonary atresia (PA), with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) in whom PPVI was performed. Such a case has not been reported thus far.

A 20-year-old Caucasian male patient with complex cyanotic heart defects, namely, ccTGA, PA, and VSD, underwent left-sided Blalock–Taussig–Thomas shunt palliation at the second day of life, followed by a correction at the age of 5 years. The surgery included ventricular septal defect (VSD) patch closure and subpulmonary outflow tract reconstruction with a 17-mm homograft (Rastelli-type procedure). He was readmitted at 20 years old, with no symptoms in anamnesis and with good exercise tolerance. A loud systolic murmur with a thrill and soft diastolic murmur were found upon physical examination. Echocardiography revealed good function of the systemic ventricle—morphologic right ventricle (mRV) and homograft obstruction with a maximum and mean gradient of 78 mmHg and 45 mmHg, respectively, as well as its' moderate regurgitation. The peak-to-peak gradient of 82 mmHg through the narrowed-to-10-mm homograft was measured in the diagnostic catheterization and the patient qualified for PPVI.

Nonselective coronarography was performed to exclude the possibility of coronary artery (CA) compression assessed by aortography with a 20-mm Mullins-X balloon placed in the potential valve landing zone (Fig. 1A). The test revealed that the right coronary artery (RCA) originated from posterolateral sinus and the left anterior descending artery (LAD), with the circumflex artery (Cx), originated from medial sinus separately. Despite the short distance between the Cx origin and the homograft valve annulus, coronary artery compression was not an issue.

The 35-mm AndraStent XXL (AndraMed GmbH, Reutlingen, Germany) was implanted into the homograft on a 20-mm balloon-in-balloon (BIB). Then, an 18-mm Melody valve (Medtronic Inc., MN) on an 20-mm BIB was expanded (Fig. 1B). Because of the residual peak-to-peak gradient of 30 mmHg, the 22 mm Mullins-X balloon was used for postdilatation, and the final gradient dropped to 15 mmHg (see Additional file 1: Video S1, S2; Additional file 2: Video S3, S4; Additional file 3: Video S5). In the 8-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic with a mean residual gradient through the Melody valve of 22 mmHg on checkup echocardiography. Ejection fraction of the systemic ventricle was assessed to be 39% by magnetic resonance imaging (Fig. 1C). Single and insignificant fractures of the Melody valve stent (Cheatham-Platinum stent) are observed on fluoroscopy (Fig. 1D). No late complications, such as infective endocarditis, have been observed.

Congenitally corrected TGA with VSD and PA can be surgically treated by closing the VSD and placing mLV-to-pulmonary artery conduit in some cases [2]. Every implanted homograft carries the risk of future dysfunction, mostly due to its calcification and stenosis. After the Rastelli procedure, 51% of patients had reoperations owing to stenosis and insufficiency of the extracardiac conduit [3]. In patients with RV to pulmonary artery conduit stenosis, transcatheter valve implantation in the pulmonary position can be performed effectively [4]. A case series of a PPVI in two patients with ccTGA after Senning surgery was reported [5].

During PPVI, special attention should be paid to the risk of compression of the coronary arteries (CA). Morray et al. reported coronary artery compression in 4.7% of patients observed on preimplant testing [6]. Examined patients had various heart defects, and the majority (71%) of coronary artery compressions were noted in patients with an abnormal course [6]. Haas et al. reported abnormal coronary arteries in 32.8% of patients with dysfunctional right ventricle outflow tract [7].

Exceptional attention should be paid in cases of PPVI in patients with ccTGA, as CA origins are malpositioned, which is directly associated with aortopulmonary rotation [8]. PV is often localized between the ascending aorta and right atrium; therefore, CA may course closely to the potential valve implantation landing zone.

Stent fractures are a common adverse effect after Melody PPVI and occur in 25% of patients [9]. Stent fractures that do not affect its structure are not significant complications; however, the unusual position of the RVOT in patients with ccTGA might result in more frequent occurrence of stent fractures. Despite those precautions, given the correct anatomical foundation, PPVI in patients with ccTGA can be safely performed.

PPVI can be safely performed in patients with ccTGA after Rastelli-like repair. However, it requires exceptional caution due to the anomalous CA course, which can be reason for CA compression.