Mechanical hemolysis secondary to percutaneous repair of an iatrogenic Gerbode defect with the Amplatzer™ Septal Occluder

Abstract

The Gerbode defect is defined as an abnormal communication between the left ventricle and the right atrium, and is etiologically classified as congenital or acquired (iatrogenic or not). The typical treatment consists of surgical repair of the shunt, but transcatheter occlusion of this condition has proven to be a safe and effective therapeutic alternative for such patients, especially for those with prior surgeries. The aim of this study was to report a case of transcatheter closure of an acquired Gerbode defect, using the Amplatzer™ Septal Occluder device, in a 58-year-old patient, with two prior mitral valve replacements, and the consequent post-procedure mechanical hemolysis.

Percutaneous Occlusion of Atrioventricular Shunt After Surgical Correction of Interatrial Communication: Case Report

“…Left Ventricle-Right Atrial Shunt, also known as Gerbode defect, is a rare anomaly of the ventricular septum, accounting for less than 1% of congenital heart defects and approximately 0.08% of intracardiac shunts. 1 Such a shunt is classified etiologically as the congenital or acquired, iatrogenically or not. According to Yuan et al, congenital pathologies represent 24.6% of cases, while the acquired form comprises 72.7% of case reports.…”

“…However, percutaneous shunt occlusion has been shown to be an effective therapeutic alternative with good results, especially in patients with previous surgical approaches. 1,3,4 The present study aims to report a case of iatrogenically acquired transcatheter shunt closure after performing ASD repair, in addition to the early diagnosis of this anomaly, which can lead to worsening of the patient's clinical condition.…”