Ascending aorta-right pulmonary artery shunt in infants and older patients with certain types of cyanotic congenital heart disease

Optimal flow of aorta-pulmonary artery shunt in patients with cyanotic heart disease

An aorta-pulmonary artery shunt with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) tube graft (3 to 6 mm in diameter) was done in 33 cyanotic patients with complex congenital heart disease. The patients ranged from 14 days to 22 years old. In 28, the shunt flow (QB) was measured, and the optimal QB and graft size were determined. Nine patients had severe heart failure because of an excessively large shunt. Seven of these patients died, 5 early and 2 late after operation. The QBS in these 9 patients were extremely high; the QB index and the ratio of shunt flow to systemic flow (QB/QS) were 3.86 +/- 0.91 L/min/m2 (mean +/- standard deviation) and 52.4 +/- 9.7%, respectively. The QB index and the QB/QS of patients without severe cardiac failure were 1.49 +/- 0.92 L/min/m2 and 27.2 +/- 11.4%, respectively. In conclusion, the QB index, the QB/QS, or both should be maintained in the range of 1.6 to 2.4 L/min/m2 and 30 to 40%, respectively. In infants, however, it is advisable to control the flow at less than the range just given. Analysis of graft size in relation to body weight (BW, in kilograms) and body surface area (BSA, in square meters) showed that the optimal diameter (D, in millimeters) could be calculated by the following formulas: D = 1.88 In(BW) + 1.8 (r = .86) D = 0.87 In(BSA) + 5.3 (r = .73).

Staged surgical management of tetralogy of Fallot in infants

A cohort of 61 consecutive patients 24 months of age of younger had palliative shunts for symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot during a 12-year period. Thirty-six of these patients have been followed through definitive intracardiac repair or to death. For analysis palliative operations were separated into two six-year periods, 1965--1970. During the first period seven of 30 infants operated on died; all 31 infants operated on during the second period survived. The Waterston anastomosis was performed most frequently (67%) during the first period; the Blalock-Taussig anastomosis was performed in 68% of infants during the second period. Of 54 hospital survivors, three died before definitive intracardiac repair. Two of the three interim deaths were related to heart disease. Twenty-six of the remaining 51 patients have had definitive intracardiac repair with two deaths (8%). Twenty-four in this group had intracardiac repair since 1973 with one hospital death (4%). The cumulative mortality for the entire cohort is 25%, but more recent experience (1971--77) indicates a cumulative mortality near 5%. The recent mortality rate for staged management is less than the 14% rate reported by others for primary intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot in 205 infants. We conclude that primary intracardiac repair has important advantages for infants with tetralogy of Fallot who have favorable anatomic features and no other associated cardiac lesions or medical problems. Staged management of tetralogy of Fallot is still recommended for infants with unfavorable anatomy, additional lesions or associated medical problems.

Current results with construction and interruption of the Waterston anastomosis

The Waterston anastomosis was constructed in 21 infants and neonates between 1973 and 1977. Sixteen neonates were 1 week old or less and 8 were less than 24 hours old. There were 2 operative deaths, giving a hospital survival of 90%. There were 3 late deaths. All surviving infants received satisfactory palliation except 1 who required a Potts anastomosis one year later. During the same time interval, 9 other patients who had had a Waterston anastomosis underwent complete intracardiac repair. Seven of them had significant angulation of the right pulmonary artery necessitating patch reconstruction. All patients survived operation, and follow-up pulmonary angiograms demonstrated only a slight persistent narrowing of the right pulmonary artery in 2 patients. We conclude that the Waterston anastomosis can be constructed with a low operative mortality even in the severely cyanotic neonate and that it can be taken down at the time of complete repair with minimal morbidity and no mortality even if it has significantly angulated the right pulmonary artery.

The Blalock-Taussig shunt in the neonate

With improvements in the techniques of microvascular surgery, the Blalock-Taussig shunt has been applied to smaller infants. We report our experience in 17 neonates (mean age 9 days, mean weight 3.2 kg) who underwent emergency shung operations. The early mortality was 17.6% (3 of 17), with only 1 death (7%) from renal failure and sepsis, in the last 14 patients. Three shunts were patent but inadequate and required a secondary procedure, which was successful in all 3. There were 3 patients with late shunt failures at a mean of 15 months postoperatively, while 2 are still doing well at 15 and 18 months. No patients developed congestive cardiac failure. The late mortality was high (5 of 14), but was due to late shunt failure and was preventable in only 1 patient. These results are encouraging, and we continue to perform the Blalock-Taussig shung in neonates. It is hoped that improvements in technique will reduce the incidence of inadequate shunts.

Ascending aorta-pulmonary artery anastomosis for cyanotic congenital heart disease

The course and prognosis of 208 patients with an ascending aorta to pulmonary artery anastomosis is reviewed. Mortality rate during, or within one month, of surgery was 24 per cent (50/208) and late mortality rate, prior to repair, was 10 per cent (21/208). An additional 5 per cent (10/208) died during subsequent intracardiac repair. Congestive heart failure developed in 25 per cent (53/208), pulmonary artery hypertension in 17 per cent (12/72), and pulmonary vascular obstruction in 6 per cent (4/72). An increase in orifice size of the stoma with time was documented in eight patients. Additional subsequent palliative surgery was required in 22 per cent (45/208). Mortality rate was directly related to age at operation and was highest in neonates less than one week of age. In infants with tetralogy of Fallot, a preliminary comparison of mortality rate between palliative surgery and primary repair clearly suggests that the latter is the preferred method of treatment.

Heart volume and haematocrit value following aorto-pulmonary anastomosis in children with Fallot's anomaly

In 16 children with Fallot's anomaly and Waterston anastomosis, the effect of the shunt was examined repeatedly up to 2 years after operation. Change in heart volume was correlated with the haematocrit value. In 14 of the cases the function of the anastomosis was also evaluated on cardioangiography. Serial heart volume measurements were found useful to evaluate the function of the anastomosis.

The Blalock-Taussig operation: the procedure of choice in the hypoxic infant with tetralogy of Fallot

From 1971 to 1975, 17 consecutive patients aged 1 day to 4 years underwent Blalock-Taussig shunts for severe tetralogy of Fallot. Three infants were under 6 weeks of age and 7 (41%) under 1 year. There were no hospital deaths. Modification of the shunt technique adapts it to any size infant. The subclavian artery is divided at its major branches and the end spatulated to enlarge it. The artery is occluded while the shunt is constructed. No intraoperative complications were encountered; all patients have a shunt murmur with no early or late closure. No child has had heart failure or hypoxic spells. Flows measured at operation equaled one-quarter to one-half of the child's normal cardiac output. Ligation of the shunt at subsequent repair is uncomplicated. One child died three years later at correction from causes unrelated to the shunt. With appropriate modifications in technique, the Blalock-Taussig shunt is the operation of choice, at any age, for palliation of severe tetralogy of Fallot.

The medical and surgical management of patients with congenital heart disease. A survey of current knowledge and practices

Today, techniques for diagnosis,medical preparation, and definitive surgical repair are available for most cardiac anomalies, if needed. These permit successful treatment and carry a low mortality. Such children can now be expected to lead normal and meaningful lives as contributors to society. When serious symptoms occur in infancy, as discussed herein, an emergency exists and prompt diagnosis and treatment are mandatory for survival.

A new approach to repair of pulmonary branch stenosis following ascending aorta-right pulmonary artery anastomosis

Ascending aorta-right pulmonary artery anastomosis may result in branch stenosis or occlusion of the right pulmonary artery from growth or from failure to place the anastomosis on the posterior surface of the aorta at the time of construction. Closure of the anastomosis is usually easily accomplished by simple suture through the ascending aorta. When branch stenosis is present at the site of anastomosis, reconstruction of the pulmonary artery is necessary. A new approach that facilitates repair of pulmonary branch stenosis by transecting the ascending aorta over the obstructed area has been utilized in 2 patients who required reoperation for branch stenosis following repair for tetralogy of Fallot. The method is an alternative approach to gain exposure for reconstruction of the pulmonary artery.

Primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot in infancy using profound hypothermia with circulatory arrest and limited cardiopulmonary bypass: a comparison with conventional two stage management

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Ascending aorta-right pulmonary artery anastomosis: Waterston's operation

The results of 180 cases of congenital heart disease with diminished pulmonary flow operated upon with Waterston's technique are presented.

It is considered that Waterston's operation is to be preferred in children under 2 years of age and in older children who have had a previous thrombotic or insufficient Blalock operation and in whom total correction is not indicated.

The problem of pseudotruncus with hypoplastic pulmonary arteries is discussed. The convenience of the Waterston operation in these cases, and the importance of creating an anastomosis at the pulmonary bifurcation and as far back as possible in the aorta, is emphasized.

The need to perform this technique in the correct way is stressed. This will avoid the kinking and pulling of the right pulmonary artery, which are causes of preferential blood flow to the right lung, as we have demonstrated experimentally.

The possible complications caused by such a technical failure are discussed. The necessity for previous angiocardiographic study, in order properly to repair the defect during total correction, is also considered.

Indications for the Brock operation in current treatment of tetralogy of Fallot

It is now generally accepted that a certain proportion of children with severe tetralogy of Fallot are anatomically unsuitable for one-stage total correction of the anomaly. The choice of the best preliminary operation for these is still in some doubt, however. Following Brock's original hypothesis that relief of the outflow obstruction will encourage enlargement of the main pulmonary artery and annulus (and therefore favour subsequent successful total correction) we have preferred this procedure in all cases not suitable for immediate total correction. In a consecutive series of 36 cases the results have been found to be very acceptable and to compare favourably with those obtained with anastomotic procedures such as the Blalock or Waterston shunt. The operation has been accomplished with an 11% mortality, and in 72% of cases cyanosis has been abolished under conditions of normal exercise. Sixteen cases have subsequently come to total correction with a 25% mortality and a 75% `cure' rate. In the light of this experience we find that closed pulmonary valvotomy with or without infundibular resection has a definite and valuable place in the current treatment of Fallot's tetralogy. General and specific indications for its use are presented.