TandemHeart System Supported High Risk Aortic Balloon Valvuloplasty

The patient was a 72-year-old male with a history of Type 2 Diabetes, status post-angioplasties and status post-Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.  The patient was awake and responsive throughout the procedure.

The patient was brought to the Cath Lab and was administered conscious sedation.  Bilateral arterial and venous access was achieved and three ProStar devices were deployed to help with arterial closure at the end of the procedure.  The transseptal puncture was achieved quickly, utilizing both Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) and Fluoroscopy.  A 15 Fr arterial cannula was placed in the patient's right femoral artery and connected to the TandemHeart Pump.  Support was initiated and gradually increased to a speed of 5950 RPM with a flow of 3.0 lpm.

The Aortic Balloon Valvuloplasty was then inserted into the patient's left femoral artery and advanced into the Aortic Annulus.  The Aortic Balloon Valvuloplasty was inflated on three separate occasions to adequately resolve the aortic calcification.  During the series of balloon inflations, the patient's hemodynamics were steady.  After ballooning the aortic valve, the TandemHeart System was weaned and removed.  The ProStar devices were engaged once the cannulae and sheaths were removed.  The patient was on TandemHeart support for under 3 hours.

Post procedural Trans Thoracic Echocardiography (TEE) revealed the patient had valve function, with minimal aortic regurgitation.
 

Case performed at Harrisburg Hospital

June 2007