Transcatheter closure of an iatrogenic ventricular septal defect after SAPIEN valve implantation.
A 57-year-old woman developed progressive calcific mitral and aortic valve disease with a porcelain aorta secondary to a history of radiation therapy. She was considered a very poor operative candidate and referred for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Four weeks after extensive coronary artery stenting, a TAVR was performed with a 23 mm Edwards SAPIEN valve (Edwards Life Sciences, Irvine, CA) through a transapical approach. Post-operatively, her symptoms of dyspnea persisted and worsened. She was found to have an acquired ventricular septal defect (VSD) measuring 8 mm by 5 mm by transesophageal echocardiogram and by a CT angiogram. Percutaneous VSD closure was accomplished with an 8 mm Muscular VSD Occluder (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN) with elimination of her shunt, improvement of her dyspnea, and marked improvement in exercise tolerance.