Off-pump connection of the hepatic to the azygos vein through a lateral thoracotomy for relief of arterio-venous fistulas after a Kawashima procedure

Off-pump direct hepatic veins-to-hemiazygos vein anastomosis after primary Kawashima operation: long-term result

Direct hepatic veins-to-hemiazygos connection offers the balanced distribution of hepatic venous blood to both lungs, not requiring anticoagulation. We report a 13-year follow-up after this type of off-pump Fontan completion. Patient's hepatic veins-to-hemiazygos confluence increased with growth to allow for unobstructed flow. This unique technique can be recommended in heterotaxy patients, if atrial hepatic venous drainage and hemiazygos vein are in close proximity.

Hepatic to azygos connection by autologous pericardial roll for Fontan completion

Techniques for performing the Fontan completion procedure after Kawashima procedure have developed in recent years. This paper presents a case in which we performed an off-pump hepatic-to-azygos connection by autologous pericardial roll via thoracotomy as a modified Fontan completion. The operation wound was limited, and the short-term follow-up was satisfactory. Notably, it was found that the autologous pericardium might require a shorter period of anticoagulation treatment than what is needed for artificial prosthetic materials.

Hepatic Vein Incorporation Into the Azygos System in Heterotaxy and Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava

Background:

Patients with heterotaxy, single ventricle and interrupted inferior vena cava are at risk of developing significant pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and cyanosis, and inequitable distribution of hepatic factor has been implicated in their development. We describe our experience with a technique for hepatic vein incorporation that reliably provides resolution of cyanosis and presumably equitable hepatic factor distribution.

Methods:

A retrospective review of a single-surgeon experience was conducted for patients who underwent this modified Fontan operation utilizing an extracardiac conduit from the hepatic veins to the dominant superior cavopulmonary connection. Preoperative characteristics and imaging, operative details, and postoperative course and imaging were abstracted.

Results:

Median age at operation was 5 years (2-10 years) and median weight was 19.6 kg (11.8-23 kg). Sixty percent (3/5) of patients had Fontan completion without cardiopulmonary bypass, and follow-up was complete at a median of 14 months (range 1-20 months). Systemic saturations increased significantly from 81% ± 1.9% preoperatively to 95% ± 3.5% postoperatively, P = .0008. Median length of stay was 10 days (range: 7-14 days). No deaths occurred. One patient required reoperation for bleeding and one was readmitted for pleural effusion. Postoperative imaging suggested distribution of hepatic factor to all lung segments with improved pulmonary arteriovenous malformation burden.

Conclusions:

Hepatic vein incorporation for patients with heterotaxy and interrupted inferior vena cava should optimally provide equitable pulmonary distribution of hepatic factor with resolution of cyanosis. The described technique is performed through a conventional approach, is facile, and improves cyanosis in these complex patients.

Urgent hepatic to azygous vein connection for thrombosis of hepatic vein to pulmonary artery conduit

We report on an emergent use of hepatic-to-azygous vein connection using a 10-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft in a 6-year-old girl who developed acute thrombosis of an extracardiac graft conduit from the hepatic veins to the pulmonary arteries. She had left atrial isomerism, interrupted inferior vena cava with azygous continuation, and had undergone surgical creation of bilateral superior cavopulmonary connections 5 years earlier. The emergency procedure to create hepatic-to-azygous connection resulted in successful salvage of the patient who was subsequently able to maintain stable oxygen saturations and experienced rapid regression of hepatic congestion and pleural effusions. Six months following the procedure, oxygen saturation was above 90%. Repeated echocardiography and computed tomography angiography showed patency of the hepatic-to-azygous connection.

Progressive cyanosis following Kawashima operation: slow resolution after redirection of hepatic veins

Progressive cyanosis often develops following Kawashima operation in patients with left atrial isomerism, interrupted inferior vena cava and hepatic veins draining to the atria. Knowledge on the timing and extend of resolution following hepatic venous redirection is sparse. A girl developed progressing cyanosis following Kawashima operation at the age of ten months. Arterial oxygen saturations at rest dropped to 60-65%. Surgical redirection of hepatic veins into the cavopulmonary circulation at the age of three years had no immediate effect. However, arterial oxygen saturations increased gradually over nine months to 90-93% and 95-100% after three years.

Reconstruction of cavopulmonary pathway for the patient with persistent arteriovenous malformations due to offset flow from hepatic vein

The hypoxemia caused by arteriovenous malformations after cavopulmonary shunt in patients with heterotaxy, an interrupted inferior vena cava and single ventricle physiology have been treated by incorporation of hepatic vein flow into the pulmonary circulation. However, some patients have persistent arteriovenous malformations because of offset hepatic venous flow to one pulmonary artery. Various approaches have been used to change offset flow to achieve balanced hepatic flow to the lungs in this patient population. This case report highlights the challenges that may be associated with anastomosis of the azygos vein to the inferior vena cava at the level of the diaphragm and illustrates an alternative technique to direct hepatic venous blood into an affected lung with arteriovenous malformations. The redirection of hepatic venous flow to the affected pulmonary artery resulted in resolution of symptoms within months of surgery.

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations in Heterotaxy Syndrome

We report a surgical approach using hepatic vein–to–azygos vein connection without cardiopulmonary bypass or deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in a patient with heterotaxy syndrome and interrupted inferior vena cava with persistence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) after previous Fontan completion. We advocate early performance of hepatic vein–to–azygos vein connection following the Kawashima operation for heterotaxy with functionally univentricular heart and interrupted inferior vena cava. We review the physiology of heterotaxy syndrome with congenital heart disease and justify our approach in the context of a review of previous surgical strategies used in this patient population.