Midterm outcomes of sutureless technique for postoperative pulmonary venous stenosis

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of a sutureless technique for postoperative pulmonary venous stenosis (PVS) following repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) has been reported, though detailed clinical advantages remain unclear. We retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience, and compared outcomes between conventional procedures and a sutureless technique.

METHODS

For relief of postoperative PVS after TAPVC repair, five patients underwent a conventional procedure, such as orifice cutback or resection of a proliferated intima, from 1999 to 2004 (Conventional group, 4 males, median 93 days old, 3.6 kg), then seven underwent a sutureless technique (Sutureless group, 5 males, 119 days old, 3.4 kg) from 2005 to 2011. Patients with a functional single ventricle were excluded. There were no significant differences regarding patient characteristics. Follow-up examinations were completed in all patients.

RESULTS

The rate for cumulative survival at 5 years was 60 % in the Conventional group and 71.4 % in the Sutureless group. Re-stenosis after relief of PVS occurred in 100 % (10/10) of patients in the Conventional group and 31.6 % (6/19) of patients in the Sutureless group (p = 0.0088). For bilateral venous stenosis patients, the survival rate was 66.7 % (4/6) in the Sutureless group and 0 % (0/2) in the Conventional group (p = 0.10). Out of three patients who developed whole 4-vein stenosis, only one in the Sutureless group survived.

CONCLUSIONS

Although overall survival rate was similar in both groups, the Sutureless technique for postoperative PVS following TAPVC repair successfully rescued more pulmonary veins without re-stenosis than conventional procedures. Further follow-up may demonstrate therapeutic advantages.

Advancing cor triatriatum in Fontan circulation

A 14-year-old female with mitral atresia, double outlet right ventricle, l-malposition of the great arteries, pulmonary valvular stenosis, bilateral superior vena cavae, and juxtaposed right atrial appendage had undergone a staged Fontan completion at 22 months of age. Ten years later, transthoracic echocardiography detected blood flow acceleration in the left atrium and scheduled follow-up cardiac catheterization revealed a 3.3 mm Hg pressure gradient between the common pulmonary venous chamber and left atrium, confirming cor triatriatum. An abnormal septum in the left atrium was surgically resected through a left-side right atriotomy. Postoperative echocardiography showed no accelerated blood flow in the left atrium.

Late clinical features of patients with pulmonary atresia or critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum after biventricular repair

BACKGROUND

We aimed to reveal late clinical features of patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) or critical pulmonary stenosis (cPS) after biventricular repair (BVR) based on preoperative right ventricular (RV) end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) findings.

METHODS

Since 1985, 23 of 73 patients with PA/IVS (n=22) or cPS (n=1) with a tripartite RV and without major sinusoidal communication underwent BVR with a hybrid approach. The mean age and weight at BVR were 1.4±2.1 years and 6.9±5.9 kg, respectively. Mean follow-up was 10.1±6.4 years (range, 1.1 to 24.6 years).

RESULTS

Overall survival, reintervention-free, and arrhythmia-free rates at 20 years were 90.6%, 75.4%, and 50.4%, respectively. In 19 patients with preoperative RVEDV of 60% to 120% of normal, echocardiography at 10 years after BVR showed well-maintained RV systolic function. However, RV volume was quantitatively dilated in 16 (88.9%) due to moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation in 8 (44.4%), pulmonary regurgitation in 12 (66.7%), or both, which caused arrhythmia in 3 patients more than 10 years after BVR. Two patients with preoperative RVEDV of greater than 120% of normal required tricuspid valve replacement after BVR, after which refractory atrial tachyarrhythmia developed in both patients. Furthermore, 2 patients with preoperative RVEDV of less than 60% of normal showed a cardiac index value within 2.5 L/min/m2 at 1 year after BVR, which did not improve.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PA/IVS or cPS and adequately sized RV showed good late clinical features after BVR. However, long-term follow-up examinations are necessary for RV dilatation and late-onset arrhythmia.

Successful surgical treatment of a gigantic congenital coronary artery fistula immediately after birth

A foetus was prenatally diagnosed with a gigantic (12 mm) coronary artery fistula (CAF) from the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery to right ventricular apex at 38 weeks of gestation. LAD was dilated to 10 mm with partial aneurysmal changes. Because of concern for sudden ischaemic cardiogenic shock soon after birth, the child was electively delivered by caesarean section, with surgical fistula closure subsequently performed 1 h after birth. We also highly suspected the presence of a clinically significant accessory diagonal branch just around the fistula, thus direct fistula closure from outside the heart without cardiopulmonary bypass was abandoned and cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated. The terminal end of LAD was carefully opened, and the fistula was directly closed with four pairs of 6-0 polypropylene mattress sutures under cardioplegic arrest, while the opened terminal end of LAD was also repaired with plegetted 6-0 polypropylene mattress and over-and-over sutures. After 4 days of post-surgical extracorporeal life support for over-systemic pulmonary hypertension, the patient recovered without complications. Although postoperative echocardiography 5 months after the operation showed normal cardiac function without ventricular asynergy, the dilated and aneurysmal LAD remained unchanged.

One-stage repair with separated cardiopulmonary bypass for coarctation of the aorta with left aortic arch and right thoracic descending aorta

We treated a 7-day-old neonate with aortic coarctation, left aortic arch, right-side descending aorta, aberrant right subclavian artery, and outlet ventricular septal defect. Surgical one-stage repair consisting of coarctation repair by extended direct anastomosis, patch closure of the ventricular septal defect, and translocation of the right subclavian artery was performed under a separated (upper and lower body) perfusion with ascending and thoracic descending aortic cannulation. The postoperative course was complicated with massive chylous effusion, which was successfully treated by thoracic duct ligation.

Long-term results of mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation in infants: fate of artificial chordae

BACKGROUND

The experience with mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation in infants was retrospectively reviewed.

METHODS

From 1978 to 2009, 15 infant patients (4 boys, 7.2±3.2 months old) underwent mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation. The etiology of mitral regurgitation according to Carpentier classification was type I in 1 patient, type II in 10 patients, and type III in 4 patients. Artificial chordal replacement was performed in 11 patients. The follow-up course was completed in all patients, with a median follow-up period of 10.2 years (range, 2.2 to 33.4 years).

RESULTS

There were no operative or in-hospital mortalities. The actuarial survival and freedom from reoperation rates at 10 years were 89% and 65%, respectively. Five patients required redo mitral valve surgery, including 4 patients needing mitral valve replacement. Three of 4 patients with type III mitral regurgitation, caused by congenital subvalvar structural abnormality, required redo mitral valve surgery. In 11 patients who underwent artificial chordal reconstruction, 2 (18%) required mitral valve replacement during the early postoperative period, whereas the remaining patients showed no recurrent mitral regurgitation during the entire study period. The latest echocardiography findings at 7.3 years after the operation showed that the left ventricular diastolic diameter, mitral valve diameter, and ejection fraction were 99.2%±5.0% of normal, 101.7%±13.3% of normal, and 0.741±0.058, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term durability of mitral valve repair for severe mitral regurgitation in infants was satisfactory. Artificial chordal reconstruction is an effective procedure without an elevated risk of late reoperation.

Normalization of pulmonary vascular resistance long after successful primary sutureless repair for congenital pulmonary vein stenosis

A 3-month-old infant with perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary hypertension presented at our center. Cardiac catheterization showed a systolic pulmonary-to-systemic arterial pressure ratio of 0.99 and a pulmonary vascular resistance of 9.32 μm(2). Pulmonary angiography showed focal orifice stenosis in the right lower and left lower and upper pulmonary veins, whereas the right upper pulmonary vein was atretic. Sutureless pericardial marsupialization concomitant with VSD patch closure was used to repair the three stenotic veins. Administration of home oxygen therapy and sildenafil citrate was continued after surgical repair. Postoperative catheterization 1.5 years after surgery showed patency of the three repaired veins and normalization of pulmonary vascular resistance.

Effect of ventricular volume before unloading in a systemic ventricle supporting the Fontan circulation

The influence of volume overload on ventricular performance has been previously investigated but primarily with respect to the duration of overload. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the magnitude of the preoperative volume overload, represented by the ventricular volume, has any effect on ventricular performance long after the Fontan operation in patients with tricuspid atresia. We evaluated consecutive changes in hemodynamic catheterization data obtained at 1, 5, and 10 years after primary Fontan repair. The variables were compared between patients with larger (n = 20) and smaller (n = 21) ventricles (preoperative end-diastolic volume [percentage of predicted] 262 ± 33%, maximum 320% vs 182 ± 22%, minimum 133%, respectively). In a subgroup of patients (n = 33) who underwent symptom-limited exercise at 10.7 ± 3.0 postoperative years, the peak oxygen uptake was measured, and the potential predictors were interrogated. The difference in ventricular contractility between the groups tended to increase with time, with those with a larger ventricle showing poorer contraction, irrespective of whether it was assessed in a load-dependent (ejection fraction) or load-independent (end-systolic elastance) manner. The differences in these variables reached statistical significance at 10 years (p = 0.028 and p = 0.032). Multivariate analysis indicated a larger ventricle was an independent risk factor of poorer aerobic capacity (p = 0.047). In conclusion, ventricular performance was less preserved in those with a larger ventricle, which might result in suboptimal aerobic capacity. Our findings suggest not only early unloading, but also avoidance of excessive volume overload is of importance to minimize the deleterious effect of volume overload on an inherently susceptible ventricle.

Mitral valve repair for congenital mitral valve stenosis in the pediatric population

BACKGROUND

Mitral valve repair is the preferred approach for congenital mitral valve stenosis in children. However, repairs in this population remain challenging.

METHODS

From 2001 to 2009, mitral valve repair was attempted in 20 consecutive congenital mitral valve stenosis patients. The median age and body weight at operation were 1.4 +/- 1.9 years and 7.4 +/- 4.1 kg, respectively. Multiple level left-side heart obstruction was present in 14 patients (70%). Moderate or more mitral insufficiency was present in 5 patients.

RESULTS

The main etiology of the stenosis was valvular in 5 patients, supravalvular mitral ring in 4, single or predominant papillary muscle in 9, and hammock mitral valve in 2. Freedom from hospital death or transplantation was 85% (17 of 20). Two patients required replacement before discharge. In the 15 successfully repaired patients, mean mitral valve inflow pressure gradient improved from 13.9 +/- 2.7 mm Hg to 5.5 +/- 1.6 mm Hg (p < 0.0001). There were no late deaths at a mean follow-up of 46 +/- 31 months (range, 6.3 to 98.5). One patient required a second repair, and no patient has required replacement. At the last follow-up, mean mitral valve inflow pressure gradient was 7.5 +/- 4.1 mm Hg, and moderate or more mitral insufficiency was detected in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Mitral valve repair for congenital mitral valve stenosis can be performed in this challenging population of patients with good early survival and freedom from transplantation. Conditional follow-up for successfully repaired patients demonstrates preserved mitral valve function without need for replacement.

[Surgical outcomes of arrhythmia surgery associated with total cavo-pulmonary connection conversion for failed Fontan]

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of late-onset supraventricular tachyarrhythmia is one of the major factors for Fontan failure. In 1999, we initiated the arrhythmia surgery with combined total cavo-pulmonary connection (TCPC) conversion for failed Fontan patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1999 to 2008, a total of 7 patients (5 males) underwent arrhythmia surgery with TCPC conversion for supraventricular tachyarrhythmia causing Fontan failure. Median age at operation and duration from last Fontan operation were 20.3 year-old (14.5-38.9) and 15.6 years (9.9-26.2), respectively. Previous Fontan procedure was atrio-pulmonary connection (APC) in 4 patients, lateral tunnel in 2, and right atrial-ventricular anastomosis (Bjork procedure) in 1. Right side maze procedure was applied for intraatrial reentrant tachycardia (IART) and full maze for atrial fibrillation (Afib).

RESULTS

There ware no early death and 1 late death due to infectious endocarditis for median followup at 7.4 years (1.3-10.3). None of the patients showed recurrent or new onset IART or Afib, including the late expired case. Current New York Heart Association functional class was I in 4 patients and II in 2.

CONCLUSIONS

TCPC conversion with arrhythmic surgery was successfully performed failed Fontan patients. All patients were converted to sinus rhythm and have kept it until now.

Successful staged Fontan completion for truncus arteriosus with hypoplastic left ventricle

We report a case of truncus arteriosus type II with a large outlet ventricular septal defect and a hypoplastic left ventricle. The first-stage palliation was the removal of both branch pulmonary arteries from the ascending aorta, patch augmentation of the pulmonary artery confluence, and modified Blalock-Taussig shunt at age 1 month. The second stage palliation was a bidirectional Glenn at 6 months. The final stage was an extracardiac Fontan at age 3 years. Eight years later, the patient is doing well, with an unobstructed Fontan pathway and mild-to-moderate truncal valve insufficiency.

Late reoperation after reimplantation of an anomalous single coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

A 14-year-old girl with an anomalous origin of a single coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, moderate mitral insufficiency, and an outlet ventricular septal defect, underwent direct reimplantation of the single coronary artery (SCA) to the aorta and closure of the ventricular septal defect at 6 months of age. She had stenosis of the proximal single coronary artery develop 14 years after the initial operation. A patch augmentation of her proximal SCA was successfully performed, and a postoperative coronary angiographic scan taken 3 months after her surgery showed a widely patent SCA without any residual narrowing.

Steroid pulse therapy for protein-losing enteropathy after the Fontan operation

A 19-year-old male with Fontan circulation developed protein-losing enteropathy associated with acute enteritis. Although his central venous pressure was in the normal range, subcutaneous high molecular heparin injection and oral predonisolone administration were not effective. We initiated intravenous high-dose methyl-predonisolone (15 mg/kg/day) for 3 days followed by oral predonisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 4 days and repeated the course in 2 weeks. The serum protein and albumin increased to the normal level at 2 months after pulse therapy. The patient has not shown any recurrence of such protein-losing enteropathy for 2 years without any steroid agents.