Repair of double outlet right ventricle: Midterm outcomes

Double outlet right ventricle - the 50% rule has always been about the conus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There has been much variability in the definition of double outlet right ventricle (DORV) spanning the last century. Historically, emphasis has been placed on the assignment of the great arteries to the right ventricle as a definition of DORV. In this review, we aim to underscore the importance of conal muscle, rather than rules surrounding assignment of great arteries to ventricles. We will be outlining the variability in patient anatomy that results from variations in conal muscle development in DORV, which may not fit perfectly into predefined constructs. This anatomic variability directly determines physiology and surgical repair options.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is a growing appreciation of the utility of cross-sectional imaging in complex DORV, and the generation of patient-specific 3D models with virtual reality simulations for surgical planning. These models improve the prediction of candidacy for biventricular repair and allow the mapping of complex baffle pathways preoperatively.

SUMMARY

DORV is not a disease entity in itself, but rather a vast spectrum of disorders associated with maldevelopment of conal muscle and often abnormal expansion of one the great vessels. Patient-specific 3D models will be crucial for improved surgical planning and patient outcomes.

Intracardiac Three-Dimensional Image as Surgical Decision-Making Tool of Congenital Heart Disease

This study aimed to evaluate the anatomical reproducibility of a preoperative intracardiac 3D image (IC image) created using computed tomography, and to investigate its usefulness as a surgical decision-making tool. Between 2012 and 2022, ventricular septal defect (VSD) patients, and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) or transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with pulmonary stenosis (PS) patients who underwent cardiac surgery and had preoperative computed tomography were enrolled. SYNAPSE VINCENT® (Fujifilm) was used to create an IC image which was analyzed retrospectively. In 14 VSD patients, the diagnostic consistency rate in the Soto classification with intraoperative findings was 100% (14/14) for IC image versus 64% (9/14) for transthoracic echocardiography (P = 0.04). The defect size showed a higher correlation coefficient with IC image (0.837, P = 0.001) than with transthoracic echocardiography (0.567, P = 0.034). In 11 DORV/TGA with PS patients, the diagnostic consistency rate in the Lev classification was 100% (9/9) for IC image versus 77% (7/9) for transthoracic echocardiography (P = 0.47). The secondary interventricular foramen (SVF)/left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) ratio by IC image was significantly smaller in the biventricular-repair group (median 0.71, IQR 0.67-1.06) than in the univentricular-repair group (median 1.79, IQR 1.53-2.42) (P = 0.006). An IC image is useful as a surgical decision-making tool for simple VSDs and complex congenital heart diseases such as DORV or TGA with pulmonary stenosis. The SVF/LVOT ratio determined from the IC image may be a useful indicator for avoiding LVOT obstruction.

"From Vision to Reality: Virtual Reality's Impact on Baffle Planning in Congenital Heart Disease"

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and utility of virtual reality (VR) for baffle planning in congenital heart disease (CHD), specifically by creating patient-specific 3D heart models and assessing a user-friendly VR interface. Patient-specific 3D heart models were created using high-resolution imaging data and a VR interface was developed for baffle planning. The process of model creation and the VR interface were assessed for their feasibility, usability, and clinical relevance. Collaborative and interactive planning within the VR space were also explored. The study findings demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of VR in baffle planning for CHD. Patient-specific 3D heart models generated from imaging data provided valuable insights into complex spatial relationships. The developed VR interface allowed clinicians to interact with the models, simulate different baffle configurations, and assess their impact on blood flow. The VR space's collaborative and interactive planning enhanced the baffle planning process. This study highlights the potential of VR as a valuable tool in baffle planning for CHD. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of using patient-specific 3D heart models and a user-friendly VR interface to enhance surgical planning and patient outcomes. Further research and development in this field are warranted to harness the full benefits of VR technology in CHD surgical management.

Trans-aortic DORV repair

Double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a group of complex ventriculoarterial connections. In the literature, there are reports of trans-aortic correction of tetralogy of Fallot, as well as ventricular septal defects and complex DORV without right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. However, a pure trans-aortic approach for DORV ventricular septal defect (VSD) right ventricular outflow tract obstruction repair is not reported in the literature. We present a case of pure trans-aortic repair of DORV VSD pulmonary stenosis (PS) in an adult. A 20-year-old male with a known case of DORV, VSD, and PS presented with cyanosis. A pure trans-aortic repair of DORV was done. Complete trans-aortic DORV VSD PS repair is yet to be reported in the literature. The trans-aortic approach avoids a right atriotomy, right ventriculotomy, and injury to coronary arteries in cases of complicated tetralogy of Fallot and avoids injury to the tricuspid valve. This approach can be used in selected patients for intracardiac repair. The advantages are excellent visualization of the defects and avoidance of injury to the aortic cusps and bundle of His. In addition, placement of the VSD patch on the left ventricular outflow side may prevent residual shunts after repair.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-023-01564-x.

Current outcomes of live-born children with double outlet right ventricle in Norway

OBJECTIVES

This population-based, comprehensive, retrospective study presented the clinical outcomes of all children born in Norway between 2003 and 2017 with double outlet right ventricle (DORV).

METHODS

All children born with DORV between 2003 and 2017 were identified in the Oslo University Hospital registry. Patients' characteristics, interventions, complications and deaths were recorded. Echocardiographic data were reviewed for classification according to current standards. We investigated time-dependent surgical reintervention and mortality using Kaplan-Meier analyses and determinants of treatment complications, reintervention and death using regression analyses.

RESULTS

Ninety-three children with DORV represented an annual median prevalence of 1.18 per 10 000 births in Norway. Six children received palliative care. With an intention to treat, a surgical route with the primary biventricular repair was followed for 62 children, staged biventricular repair for 15 and univentricular repair for 10 children. Major complications occurred in 1.0% and 6.2% of children following catheter or surgical intervention, respectively. No significant determinants of the complications were identified. Overall survival following treatment was 91.9%, 90.8%, 89.5% and 89.5% and corresponding freedom from surgical reintervention was 88.0%, 79.0%, 74.9% and 69.4% at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years, respectively. The presence of atrioventricular septal defect predicted an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio: 7.16) but did not increase the risk of surgical reintervention.

CONCLUSIONS

In Norway, most children receive tailored treatment for DORV with low rates of complications, surgical reinterventions and mortality. However, atrioventricular septal defect remains a potential determinant of postoperative death.

Double outlet right ventricle in adults: Anatomic variability, surgical treatment, and late postoperative complications

Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a highly complex congenital heart disease (CHD) entity, gaining increasing interest due to the rapid progress of cardiac surgery. The number of patients operated for this congenital defect has been growing since 1980s and over following decades with active transitioning of this cohort into the adult medicine. However, the diversity of initial anomaly and performed interventions makes challenging the management of these patients. This is particularly important in the regions where specialized adult CHD cardiology still remains underdeveloped. In this review, we observe the basic principles of DORV nomenclature, main types of the operations and possible late complications. The article focuses on adult patients and offers illustrations from clinical practice.

Usefulness of transaortic approach for a complex double-outlet right ventricle

Surgical procedures for double-outlet right ventricle with ventricular septal defect are based on rerouting the blood flow of the left ventricle to the aorta through the ventricular septal defect (VSD) with an intraventricular baffle. The right atriotomy is the most common approach combined with a right ventriculotomy in some cases, particularly in pulmonary stenosis association. However, in complex cases, this standard operative strategy may not provide an adequate exposure. We describe the transaortic approach as an alternative procedure to repair a complex case of double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) with subaortic stenosis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-021-01261-7.

Super Glenn for staged biventricular repair: impact on left ventricular growth?

 

OBJECTIVES

The Super Glenn procedure involves targeted increased in blood flow to left sided heart structures with fenestrated atrial septation. The objective of this study was to examine the outcomes of patients who had this procedure as a part of biventricular staging and specifically evaluate the effect on dimensions of left heart structures.

METHODS

Data for patients who had this procedure between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively identified.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients were identified. Most common diagnosis was hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 40% (n = 15). On echocardiography, the median mitral valve z score was -2.26. On cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, median indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 31.5 ml/m2 and mitral/tricuspid inflow ratio was 0.35. The median age at Super Glenn was 2.3 years (interquartile range 1.5-3.6) while median weight was 12 kg (interquartile range 9.8-14). There were no early/hospital deaths. The median intensive care unit length of stay was 4 days, and median hospital length of stay was 10 days. Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 3 years (range 15 days to 13.2 years). There was a statistically significant increase in indexed left ventricular dimensions. There were 5 deaths (14%). Three patients (8%) underwent heart transplant. Freedom from death/transplant was 79% at 5 years. Seven patients (19%) needed a reoperation. Twenty-three patients (62%) underwent biventricular conversion after a median of 11.3 months after Super Glenn.

CONCLUSIONS

The Super Glenn procedure achieves consistent increase in left ventricular dimensions. This may be a useful strategy to help achieve a successful biventricular circulation in patients with borderline left ventricle. The superiority/non-inferiority of this approach over the conventional Fontan pathway is unclear.

Narrative review of assessing the surgical options for double outlet right ventricle

The individualized surgical approach in individuals with both arterial trunks arising from the morphologically right ventricle is dictated by the extreme morphological variability encountered in this setting, with each patient being unique. An individualized surgical approach has been designed to take account of the morphological variations, identifying the anatomy with the preoperative three-dimensional CT scan reconstruction. The key features have been considered the distance between tricuspid and pulmonary valves, the size and location of the interventricular communication, and the relationship between the outflow tracts. The surgical approach is tailored, whenever feasible, to create a connection between left ventricle and aorta, but primarily to achieve biventricular repair. Account has been taken of all available surgical options already reported in the literature, identifying the most suitable to provide the best outcomes for each unique morphology. To date, meaningful comparison between different reported surgical series has been difficult because of the marked variation of individual intracardiac morphology, and the lack of reports of specific surgical approaches for well-categorized groups of patients. Our approach, being tailored to the individual cardiac morphology, can be offered to any patient with this ventriculo-arterial connection. Given the difficulties of diagnosis, and the multiple therapeutic indications, very close collaboration between cardiologists and surgeons is indispensable for further progress in the understanding and management of this complex congenital cardiac lesion.

Utility and Access to 3-Dimensional Printing in the Context of Congenital Heart Disease: An International Physician Survey Study

Background

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a new technology capable of producing patient-specific 3D cardiac models.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of pediatric cardiologists was conducted. Members of the Canadian Pediatric Cardiology Association and Congenital Cardiac Interventional Study Consortium were invited to participate. A questionnaire was distributed using Research Electronic Data Capture between May and September 2019. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher exact test, and odds ratio.

Results

A total of 71 pediatric cardiologists responded. Some 85% (60/71) agreed that patient-specific 3D printed cardiac models are a beneficial tool in treating children with congenital heart disease (CHD); 80% of those (48/60) believe 3D models facilitate communication with colleagues; 49% (35/71) of respondents had access to 3D printing technology; and 77% (27/35) of those were using models for clinical care. Access differed according to geographic location (P = 0.004). Of respondents, Americans were 5.5 times more likely (confidence interval, 1.6-19.2) than Canadians to have access to 3D printing technology. The primary reason for lack of access was financial barriers (50%, 18/36). In clinical practice, surgical planning is the primary use of models (96%, 26/27), followed by interventional catheterization planning (52%, 14/27). Double outlet right ventricle was the most commonly modelled lesion (70%, 19/27).

Conclusion

3D printing is a new technology that is beneficial in the care of children with CHD. Access to 3D printing varies by geographic location. In pediatric cardiology, 3D models are primarily used for procedural planning for CHD lesions with complex 3D spatial relationships.