In August 2010, the Nit-Occlud Lê (EUREVECO) became available for transcatheter coil occlusion of ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Retrospective European Registry for VSD Closure using the Nit-Occlud Lê-VSD-Coil; analysis of the feasibility, results, safety and follow-up of VSD-closure over a 3-year period in 18 European centers. In 102 of 111 patients (female 66), successful VSD closure was performed (mean age 8.2 years, mean weight 28.82 kg), 81 perimembranous VSDs (48 with aneurysm), 30 muscular VSDs, mean procedure time was 121.1 min, and mean fluoroscopy time was 26.3 min. Short- and midterm term follow-up was possible in 100/102 patients, there was 1 embolization and 1 explantation after 24 months. Immediate complete closure occurred in 49 of 101 patients (48.5%), trivial residual shunt was present in 51 (50.0%), closure rate was 95% after 6 months and 97% after 1 year. Out of the 102 patients, there were 2 severe complications (1.8%) (1 severe hemolysis, 1 embolization) and 8 moderate/transient (=7.2%) including 1 transient AV block. During a mean follow-up period of 31.3 months (range 24-48) and a total follow-up time of 224.75 patient years, no further problems occurred. VSD closure with the Nit-Occlud Lê VSD coil is feasible and safe with a minimal risk of severe side effects. The long-term effects and safety require further clinical follow-up studies.

ASD closure using OFSO is feasible in a large variety of patients, safe with only a minimal risk of severe side effects and especially without any aortic erosions despite a large percentage of large and complicated defects. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is an uncommon and mostly congenital cardiac anomaly which predominantly affects Asian males [1]. Congenital SVA is caused by deficiency of normal elastic tissue between aortic media and the annulus fibrosus (abnormal bulbus cordis development) [2]. Ventricular septal defect (VSD), aortic regurgitation (AR), and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) are frequent concomitant lesions in this SVA type. Acquired SVA can result from previous cardiac surgery, endocarditis, syphilis, atherosclerosis, or chest injury [3]. SVA arises from the right sinus of Valsalva in 80-85% cases, from the non-coronary sinus in 5-15%, and rarely from the left sinus. Despite being generally asymptomatic, SVA can compress adjacent structures, resulting in acute

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The hybrid method of treating thoracic aortic pathology is devoid of the disadvantages of traditional open surgery and, at the same time, has a broader range of applications than the endovascular method. From 2014 to 2019, we researched 122 patients with thoracic aortic pathology treated with the hybrid method (open surgery with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) at the National M. Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery National Academy of Medical Science of Ukraine. In the general group, 34 patients had a descending aortic aneurysm without dissection or rupture; 71 patients had an aortic dissection (10 – acute, 9 – subacute, 52 – chronic), penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) – 7, thoracoabdominal aneurysm (Crawford I-II) – 4, isolated aortic arch aneurysm – 2, residual enlargement aorta after previous ascending aortic grafting causing type A acute aortic dissection (TAAD) – 3, primary aortic thrombosis – 1. Patients admitted as elective surgery candidates had switched aortic arch vessels (debranching) in the first stage and TEVAR in the second stage. For emergencies (aortic rupture with uncontrolled bleeding, malperfusion syndrome), TEVAR operation was performed first. Long-term results of treatment after three and six months are satisfactory. The hybrid technique of aortic arch treatment using modern minimally invasive technologies can eliminate the pathology in the most dangerous segment of the main artery of the body, providing a reasonable level of hospital mortality – 4.2%, and a small number of neurological complications.