Contemporary Management Strategies of Baffle Leaks in Adults with a Failing Systemic Right Ventricle Late after Atrial Switch: A Case Series and Literature Overview

Abstract

Baffle leaks are a frequently encountered and often overlooked complication after the atrial switch procedure for transposition of the great arteries. Baffle leaks are present in up to 50% of non-selected patients, and while they initially may not cause clear symptoms, they can complicate the hemodynamic course and influence the prognosis in this complex patient group. A shunt from the pulmonary venous atrium (PVA) to the systemic venous atrium (SVA) can lead to pulmonary overflow and subpulmonary left ventricular (LV) volume overload, while a shunt from the SVA to the PVA can result in (exercise-associated) cyanosis and paradoxical embolism. We report three cases of baffle leaks in patients with systemic right ventricular (sRV) failure late after the atrial switch procedure. Two symptomatic patients who presented with exercise-associated cyanosis due to SVA to PVA shunting over the baffle leak underwent successful percutaneous baffle leak closure with a septal occluder device. One patient with overt sRV failure and signs of subpulmonary LV volume overload due to PVA to SVA shunting was managed conservatively, as baffle leak closure was expected to lead to an increase in sRV end-diastolic pressure and aggravation of sRV dysfunction. These three cases illustrate the considerations made, challenges faced, and necessity of a patient-tailored approach when addressing baffle leaks.