Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

Multimodal Assessment and Intramodal Comparison of Imaging Techniques for Pediatric Pulmonary Vein Stenosis with Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a rare, serious, and progressive disease in the pediatric population. Evaluation is complex and involves multimodality imaging. Diagnosis is important as early treatment to prevent progressive pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular dysfunction is essential. Adult studies have shown good correlation between various imaging modalities; however, there are limited data in children. This is a single-center retrospective pilot study to determine the reliability of measurement of pulmonary vein stenosis and pulmonary hypertension across different imaging modalities-computed tomography angiography (CTA), echocardiography (echo), lung perfusion scan (LPS), and cardiac catheterization (cath). PVS was defined as > 2 mmHg by echo and cath and/or 50% reduction in diameter by CTA. Patients had to have an echo, CTA and cath performed within a 1-month timeframe of one another to be included in the study, with LPS data included if testing was completed at initial evaluation. Fifteen total patients were enrolled; 87% were categorized as primary PVS; a condition not directly related to direct injury or prior surgical intervention. Twenty-seven total stenotic pulmonary veins were identified (mean 1.8, range 1-4). CTA had a slightly better agreement with cath than echo in identifying PVS in different vein locations except in the LLPV. Additionally, echo and CTA had excellent sensitivity (91%) and specificity (100%) compared to cath for diagnosis of PH. We conclude that non-invasive imaging of echo and CTA has an acceptable correlation to cardiac catheterization for screening and initial evaluation of PVS and PH, as directly related to PVS, in pediatrics.

Long-term outcomes of repair in children with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

OBJECTIVES

The clinical data of patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection who underwent repair in our centre in the past 13 years were reviewed. In this study, we systemically reviewed our experience in the optimal surgical strategy for patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, aiming to provide evidence for clinical decision-making.

METHODS

From January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2021, 122 patients undergoing surgical treatment for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in our hospital were enrolled. Among them, 18 patients with single ventricle repair were excluded from the study. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the risk factors for early and late death and the risk factors for pulmonary vein obstruction.

RESULTS

There were 64 males and 40 females. The median age at surgery was 107 days (range, 25 days-788 days), the median weight at surgery was 4.8 kg (range, 3 kg-22 kg), and the median follow-up was 59 months (range, 0-150 months). Seven patients died early after surgery and six died late after discharge. Multivariable analysis indicated that prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time was the only independent risk factor for early postoperative mortality. Multivariate analysis did not identify risk factors for late death. Emergency surgery, preoperative moderate and severe pulmonary hypertension, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time were independent risk factors for postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction.

CONCLUSION

Early and long-term late outcomes of repair in patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection have been encouraging. Postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction remains a major problem for specialists worldwide. Pulmonary vein obstruction should be considered in children with preoperative emergency surgery, moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, and regular follow-up is necessary.

Factors associated with early postoperative mortality after total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair: A retrospective cohort study

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital defect where pulmonary venous plexus fails to connect with the left atrium (LA). Surgical repair is the primary treatment for TAPVC, but factors influencing outcomes are not fully understood. This study investigates the early outcomes of surgical repair for TAPVC and associated factors. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on TAPVC patients who underwent surgical repair between 2012 and 2022. Data were collected from medical records and supplemented with phone call validation. Demographic characteristics, surgical data, diagnostic tests, and outcomes were analyzed. Statistical analysis included chi-square, t-tests, and multivariate logistic regression using SPSS. A total of 88 patients underwent surgical repair for TAPVC, resulting in a mortality rate of 21.6%. Weight and bypass time were significantly associated with patient survival. Female patients had a higher likelihood of death. The anatomic type did not significantly influence mortality. Patients with pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) experienced a higher mortality rate. Notably, ligation of the vertical vein in supracardiac and infracardiac types was associated with lower mortality. In conclusion, our study identifies several key factors contributing to higher mortality rates following TAPVC surgery, including low weight, female gender, prolonged bypass time, and preoperative vein obstruction. Highlighting the significance of surgical technique, particularly the sutureless approach, we advocate for its meticulous consideration to achieve improved outcomes. Furthermore, our findings indicate a potential decrease in mortality associated with vertical vein ligation, which may mitigate the risk of post-repair heart failure. We suggest further rigorous studies to gain comprehensive insights into TAPVC surgical interventions.

Insight into the research history and trends of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: a bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by the inability of all pulmonary veins to connect to the left atrium. Our previous bibliometric article summarized the characteristics of only the 100 most cited papers in TAPVC research. The purpose of this study was to use comprehensive bibliometric analysis to examine the development history, current status, and future trends in the field of TAPVC.

METHODS

All publications on TAPVC published between 2000 and 2023 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection. The publication and citation data were quantitatively analyzed by publication year, country, institution, author, and journal. Co-authorship and co-occurrence analyses were performed using VOSviewer, and keyword and reference bursts were identified using CiteSpace. Pearson's test was used to examine the correlations between two continuous variables.

RESULTS

As of July 20, 2023, we identified 368 publications with 3320 citations. These publications were published in 132 journals and authored by 1835 researchers from 457 institutions in 47 countries. For the number of publications, the top country, top institution, top author, and top journals were the United States (n = 82), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (n = 13), Huiwen Chen (n = 9), and Annals of Thoracic Surgery and Pediatric Cardiology (n = 29 each), respectively. For the number of citations, the top country, top affiliation, top author, and top journal were the United States (n = 1348), University of Toronto (n = 250), Christopher A. Caldarone (n = 315), and Annals of Thoracic Surgery (n = 746), respectively. The number of national publications significantly correlated with GDP (R = 0.887, P < 0.001), research & development (R&D) expenditure (R = 0.375, P = 0.013), population (R = 0.694, P < 0.001), and journals (R = 0.751, P < 0.001). The number of national citations significantly correlated with GDP (R = 0.881, P < 0.001), R&D expenditure (R = 0.446, P = 0.003), population (R = 0.305, P = 0.037), and journals (R = 0.917, P < 0.001). International collaboration in the field of TAPVC was not well developed. The most commonly cited publication discussed era changes in mortality and reoperation rate in TAPVC patients. The most common keywords were "total anomalous pulmonary venous connection" and "congenital heart disease". The keyword "case report" appeared most recently, with an average occurrence year of 2021.8. The co-occurrence analysis grouped 26 keywords into six themes: surgical repair of TAPVC, postoperative pulmonary vein stenosis, surgical repair of TAPVC patients with heterotaxy, application of echocardiography in diagnosing TAPVC, application of echocardiography in the prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC, and application of the sutureless technique in the surgical repair of TAPVC patients with right atrial isomerism or a single ventricle. Citation burst detection identified 32 references with citation bursts, seven of which had ongoing citation bursts until 2023.

CONCLUSIONS

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to provide a comprehensive overview of TAPVC research. We hope to offer new ideas for promoting development in the field of TAPVC.

Risk factors and outcomes for surgical repair of obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Background

Surgical repair of obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a high-risk surgical cohort. This study aimed to assess surgical risk factors and outcomes in infants with TAPVC treated at a single centre.

Methods

This was a prospective single-centre, observational study that included consecutive patients presenting with obstructed TAPVC. Patients with obstructed supra-cardiac, cardiac, and infra-cardiac TAPVC were included in the study. In-hospital mortality was the primary outcome. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

Results

Of the 41 patients, 31 (75.6%) were males. Ages were distributed as follows: 20 (48.8%) between 1 and 3 months, 11 (26.88%) between >3 months, and 10 (24.4%) neonates. The in-hospital mortality was 19.5% (n=8). Of the remaining 33 patients, there were no deaths during the follow-up. Short-term follow-up was achieved for 100% of cases (up to 6 months post-operatively). The mean duration of follow-up was 43.6± 3.6 months. One (3%) early and 2 (6%) late pulmonary vein obstructions were observed during follow-up. Age less than 30 days and pre-operative ventilation were associated with significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality.

Conclusions

Despite logistical challenges, reasonable surgical outcomes are attainable in obstructed TAPVC cases. Age less than 30 days and need for pre-operative ventilation were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality, while pulmonary venous obstruction in the post-operative period contributed to re-interventions.

[Imaging of congenital heart defects with a focus on magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography]

CLINICAL ISSUE

Due to advances in diagnostics and therapy, the survival rate of patients with congenital heart defects is continuously increasing. The aim of this review is to compare various imaging modalities that are used in the diagnosis of congenital heart defects.

METHODS

Transthoracic echocardiography is the imaging method of choice in the presence of a congenital heart defect because of its wide availability and non-invasiveness. It can be complemented by transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart and vessels close to the heart.

METHODICAL INNOVATIONS

The radiation exposure of CT examinations of the heart is continuously decreasing because of improved technologies. MRI is also being continuously optimized, e.g., by the acquisition of MR angiographies without contrast medium application or a thin three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the entire heart with the possibility of reconstruction in all spatial planes (whole-heart technique) as well as 2D to 4D flow.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATION

Due to the complexity of congenital heart defects and the variety of possible pathologies, the choice of imaging modality and its exact performance has to be coordinated in an interdisciplinary context and individually adapted.

Modified L-shaped incision technique for supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection as an alternative to sutureless technique

BACKGROUND

The modified L-shaped incision technique (MLIT) was successfully applied to the repair of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) with promising mid-term outcomes. It is, however, unclear whether or not MLIT could be an alternative to sutureless technique (ST).

METHODS

All patients ( n =141) who underwent MLIT or ST repair for supracardiac TAPVC between June 2009 and June 2022 were included and a propensity score-matched analysis was performed to reduce the heterogeneity.

RESULTS

MLIT was performed in 80.9% (114/141), whereas ST was performed in 19.1% (27/141). Patients who underwent MLIT repair had a lower incidence of pulmonary veinous obstruction (PVO)-related reintervention (1.8 vs. 18.5%, P =0.002), and late mortality (2.6 vs. 18.2%, P =0.006). Overall survival at 10 years was 92.5% (87.7-97.7%) for MLIT and 66.8% (44.4-100%) for ST ( P =0.012). Freedom from postoperative PVO at 10 years was 89.1% (83.2-95.5%) for MLIT and 79.9% (65.6-97.4%) for ST ( P =0.12). Cox proportional hazards regression identified prolonged mechanical ventilation duration, postoperative PVO, respiratory dysfunction, and low cardiac output syndrome were associated with postoperative death and PVO-related reintervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The MLIT strategy is a safe, technologically feasible, and effective approach for supracardiac TAPVC, which is associated with more favorable and promising freedom from death and PVO-related reintervention.

Surgical repair of neonatal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: A single institutional experience with 241 cases

Objective

Challenges persist in surgery for neonatal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (neoTAPVC), with the high mortality risk not mitigated over time.

Methods

A prospectively collected single-center database containing all neonates with TAPVC undergoing biventricular repair in 2012 to 2020 was retrospectively reviewed. The primary outcome was death or postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PPVO). Based on the preoperative admission location in our hospital, patients were classified into those being admitted to cardiac intensive care unit versus neonatal intensive care unit or general pediatric intensive care unit. Access to dedicated presurgical care (DPC) was defined as patients who were preoperatively admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit.

Results

Overall, 241 patients with a median age at surgery of 14 days (interquartile range [IQR], 9-21 days) were included. Anomalous return was supracardiac in 38.6%, cardiac in 26.1%, infracardiac in 28.6%, and mixed in 6.6%. Patients receiving DPC had better survival (96.3% vs 84.3%; P = .0028) and lower incidence of PPVO (15.2% vs 28.6%; P = .011) compared with those without DPC. Patients in the DPC group were less likely to undergo operation within 24 hours on presentation (27.1% vs 40.3%; P = .041), had improved lactate clearance (1.5 [IQR, 1.0-2.2] vs 2.8 [IQR, 1.8-4.1]; P < .001), and had lower incidence of postoperative pulmonary hypertension crisis (2.8% vs 18.7%; P < .001) compared with those in no-DPC group. After matching, no difference in PPVO could be observed in patients undergoing conventional versus sutureless repair (22.6% vs 12.9%; P = .29).

Conclusions

Access to DPC potentially improves outcomes in the neoTAPVC setting; freedom from PPVO were similar using conventional versus sutureless repair.

A cohort study to investigate the potential indicators for prenatal echocardiographic detection of suspected coarctation of the aorta

Objectives

Suspected coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a common fetal echocardiographic presentation. However, the prenatal findings did not indicate a satisfied accuracy in determining the truly CoA after birth, which made the prenatal diagnosis of CoA still as a critical challenge with high false positive rate. Thus, this research is aimed to distinguish the potential prenatal parameters influencing the fetal echocardiographic images and enhance the true positive diagnostic rate of CoA fetuses which require early clinical intervention in postnatal life.

Methods

A retrospective study had been designed and fetuses with suspected with CoA had been included from Jan 2016 to Dec 2021 in our center. The fetal echocardiography and related clinical information had been collected. And the postnatal diagnosis had been reached by echocardiography or CTA. Then, all the parameters had been analyzed by univariate analysis, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was further involved to determine the independent parameters influencing the accuracy of diagnosis CoA fetuses. Moreover, such results had been validated by nomogram analysis and ROC curve.

Results

Among the included 44 liveborn infants who presented suspected CoA in fetal cardiac screening, 18 cases had been proved to be CoA postnatally (Group P). The true positive rate for this study was 40.9% (18/44). The abnormal atrial hemodynamic status (AAHs) and the gestational week of delivery (GWoD) were associated with the postnatal CoA confirmation among prenatal suspected fetuses. The ROC curve of predicting probability of the mode combined with two independent factors of absence of AAH and GWoD (AUC = 0.880, 95% CI 0.763-0.997) presented a satisfied efficacy in distinguishing postnatal positive CoA diagnosis. The nomogram plot had been be utilized in CoA prediction (model likelihood ratio test, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

AAH and GWoD had been identified as independent factors of predictive accuracy in detecting postnatal CoA among prenatal suspected fetuses. The prediction mode based on nomogram scores could be used to predict the risk of occurring CoA fetuses.

A Risk Prediction Model for Reintervention After Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Repair

BACKGROUND

Outcomes after total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) repair remain suboptimal due to recurrent pulmonary vein (PV) obstruction requiring reinterventions. We sought to develop a clinical prediction rule for PV reintervention after TAPVC repair.

METHODS

Data from consecutive patients who underwent TAPVC repair at a single institution from January 1980 to January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed after Institutional Review Board approval. The primary outcome was postdischarge (late) unplanned PV surgical or transcatheter reintervention. Echocardiographic criteria were used to assess PV residual lesion severity at discharge (class 1: no residua; class 2: minor residua; class 3: major residua). Competing risk models were used to develop a weighted risk score for late reintervention.

RESULTS

Of 437 patients who met entry criteria, there were 81 (18.5%) reinterventions at a median follow-up of 15.6 (interquartile range, 5.5-22.2) years. On univariable analysis, minor and major PV residua, age, single-ventricle physiology, infracardiac and mixed TAPVC, and preoperative obstruction were associated with late reintervention (all P < .05). The final risk prediction model included PV residua (class 2: subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 4.8; 95% CI, 2.8-8.1; P < .001; class 3: SHR, 6.4; 95% CI, 3.5-11.7; P < .001), age <1 year (SHR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.3-8.5; P = .014), and preoperative obstruction (SHR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.8; P = .015). A risk score comprising PV residua (class 2 or 3: 3 points), age (neonate or infant: 2 points), and obstruction (1 point) was formulated. Higher risk scores were significantly associated with worse freedom from reintervention (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

A risk prediction model of late reintervention may guide prognostication of high-risk patients after TAPVC repair.

Unobstructed infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in a 7-month-old infant: A rare case report

Key Clinical Message

This case underscores the importance of early detection and treatment for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, a rare congenital heart condition, through comprehensive newborn physical exams and prompt specialist referrals.

Abstract

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare form of congenital heart disease that is typically diagnosed in neonates. TAPVC has four subtypes, with the infracardiac type at risk of obstruction. TAPVC is usually diagnosed in newborns but can occur in other age groups. In this case, a 7-month-old male with recurrent cyanotic episodes was diagnosed with TAPVC of the infracardiac type using computed tomography angiography. The patient underwent successful surgical repair with a favorable postoperative course and was discharged in stable condition, and further follow-up was not possible beyond 2 months. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition and management of this condition to prevent the progression of subsequent complications.

Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) Angiography Evaluation of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital cardiovascular malformation in which all four pulmonary veins anomalously drain into the right atrium (RA) either directly or indirectly. There are four main types based on the site of connection. Any type of TAPVC may be associated with obstruction and presents early in the neonatal period with cyanosis, tachycardia, or respiratory distress. We present four cases of all types of TAPVC and its imaging findings in multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) angiography. Cardiac CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are very useful in delineating the anatomy and drainage pathway of anomalous pulmonary veins. MDCT angiography is noninvasive and easily available, and rapid image acquisition is possible with high spatial resolution. Since early diagnosis and surgical correction are necessary for the survival of these neonates, rapid image acquisition using MDCT angiography can be preferred over MRI.

Sutureless technique combined with vertical vein incision and pulmonary veins unroofed for correction of infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Objective

We report a surgical method (sutureless technique), combined with vertical vein incision and pulmonary veins unroofed (semisutureless technique), to correct infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

Materials and methods

The clinical characteristics of 21 patients, who were diagnosed with infracardiac TAPVS between February 2017 and March 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into three groups according to different surgical methods: conventional surgery group, sutureless technique group, and semisutureless technique group. The conventional surgery group enrolled five patients with a median age of 16 days (interquartile range, 9-27 days) and a median weight of 3.25 kg (interquartile range, 3.1-3.42 kg). In this group, no preoperative pulmonary vein obstruction (PVO), preoperative ventilator support, or emergency surgery were reported. The sutureless technique group enrolled seven patients with a median age of 12 days (interquartile range, 5-16 days) and a median weight of 3.04 kg (interquartile range, 2.76-3.20 kg). In this group, two patients with preoperative PVO, four patients with preoperative ventilator support, and seven patients requiring emergency operation were found. The semisutureless technique group enrolled nine patients with a median age of 14 days (interquartile range, 7-24 days) and a median weight of 3.22 kg (interquartile range, 3.15-3.50 kg). In this group, four patients with preoperative PVO, two patients with preoperative ventilator support, and seven patients requiring emergency operation were noted.

Results

In the conventional surgery group, two patients with postoperative supraventricular tachycardia, one patient with postoperative low cardiac output syndrome, one patient with PVO, and no case of postoperative death were reported. In the sutureless technique group, two patients with postoperative low cardiac output syndrome, one patient with postoperative supraventricular tachycardia, one patient with postoperative PVO, and no postoperative deaths were determined. In the semisutureless technique group, three patients had low cardiac output syndrome, two patients had supraventricular tachycardia after the operation, and one patient, who had been admitted to the hospital after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the emergency room, died early after the operation. No case of death or PVO was noted after the operation.

Conclusion

The semisutureless technique has positive effects. This surgery method can enlarge the anastomotic stoma, increase the volume of the left atrium, reduce the tension of the anastomotic stoma, fix the pulmonary vein to avoid distortion, and prevent postoperative hemorrhage.

Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal verification in fetuses with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Objective

To systematically verify the accuracy of a four-step prenatal ultrasonography in diagnosing fetal total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

Methods

A total of 62 TAPVC fetuses received prenatal ultrasonography and were confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, surgery, or postabortion autopsy. The suspected TAPVC fetuses were further screened by a four-step prenatal ultrasonography for TAPVC classification, pulmonary venous obstruction, and the associated malformations, and followed postpartum. The sonographic features, clinical data, and prognosis of the TAPVC fetuses were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Of the 62 TAPVC fetuses, supracardiac TAPVC was found in 20 cases, intracardiac TAPVC in 12, infracardiac TAPVC in 21, and mixed TAPVC in 9. A total of 30 cases with right atrium isomerism were correctly diagnosed. Of the 11 cases with other intracardiac and extracardiac malformations, 1 case was missed to be diagnosed. Of the 21 isolated TAPVC cases, 6 were missed prenatally and 1 case was prenatally diagnosed as intracardiac and postnatally proved to be mixed (intracardiac type + supracardiac type) by echocardiography. Of the 13 TAPVC live births, 4 infants died in the neonatal period without operation. Of the nine infants undergoing the operation, five recuperated and survived; one survived but had complications with superior vena cava obstruction and collateral circulation formation, and three died postoperatively.

Conclusion

The four-step prenatal ultrasound procedure can comprehensively and systematically evaluate fetal TAPVC, detailing the classification, potential obstruction, and associated malformations. It provides substantial support for subsequent prenatal counseling and neonatal assessment. The retrospective analysis also reveals that isolated TAPVC is more prone to be missed in diagnosis.

Outcome of obstructed total anamalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) repair patients with milrinone versus milrinone and inhaled nitric oxide (INO): A prospective randomized observational study

Background

Obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) typically present with severe cardiovascular decompensation and requires urgent surgical management. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major risk factor affecting mortality. Perioperative management focuses on providing inotropic support and managing potential pulmonary hypertensive episodes. Milrinone and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) efficiently reduce pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and help to improve the outcome. The aim was to determine the outcome of patients with high PAP with milrinone alone and a combination of iNO and milrinone.

Material and Method

After ethical committee approval, the study was conducted over a period of 3 years in 80 patients with obstructed TAPVC repair. A total of 80 patients having severe PAH (supra systemic arterial pressure) randomly divided into two groups with 40 patients in each (M & MN). Group M (milrinone) patients received milrinone and Group MN (milrinone & iNO) patients received both milrinone (after opening aortic cross clamp) and iNO (post operative ICU). Ventilation time, hospital stay, ICU stay, complications, in hospital mortality were compared between both groups.

Result

Ventilation time, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay for group M was 8.02 ± 5.74 days, 11.25 ± 7.33 day, 14.92 ± 8.55 days, respectively, and for group MN was 5.02 ± 1.78 days, 8.27 ± 3.24 days, 10.3 ± 3.18 days, respectively. In hospital mortality for group M and MN was 10% and 2.5%, respectively. P value for each variable was significant < 0.05 (except mortality).

Conclusion

Most of the patients with obstructed TAPVC had severe PAH. Management of severe PAH with a combination of milrinone with iNO had a better outcome than milrinone alone.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with another major congenital cardiac defect in biventricular hearts

BACKGROUND

The association of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) with major congenital cardiac anomalies is rare. This coexistence has an impact on the diagnosis and management strategies. The objective of this single centre study was to analyse the outcomes of such association in bi-ventricular hearts.

METHODS

This is a single-centre retrospective review of all patients who underwent repair for TAPVC associated with major congenital cardiac anomalies in bi-ventricular hearts from February 2015 to March 2020. Data were obtained from the hospital database. The primary aim was to assess the surgical outcomes. In addition, we described the incidence, pathophysiology, morphology and surgical strategies in this cohort of patients.

RESULTS

Out of a total of 274 patients who underwent repair for TAPVC during the study period, 16 (5.8%) patients had one or more major associated cardiac defect anomalies. The major associated lesions were ventricular septal defects (9), tetralogy of Fallot (2), transposition of the great arteries (1), aorto-pulmonary window (1), partial atrioventricular canal defect (1), pulmonary stenosis (1) and severe tricuspid valve regurgitation due to flail chord (1). The mean follow-up period is 32 ± 13 months. There were two deaths in the post-operative period and no deaths in the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of major associated cardiovascular defects with TAPVC in bi-ventricular morphology is 5.8%. The presence of a major associated lesion with TAPVC significantly alters the pathophysiology and clinical presentation with an impact on diagnosis and treatment.

Cardiac-type total anomalous pulmonary venous return is not benign

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between morphological variation and postsurgical pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis (PPVS) in patients with cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

METHODS

This single-center, retrospective study included 168 pediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of cardiac TAPVC from 2013 to 2019 (connection to the coronary sinus [CS], n = 136; connection directly to the right atrium [RA], n = 32). Three-dimensional computed tomography modeling and geometric analysis were performed to investigate the morphological features; their relevance to the PPVS was examined.

RESULTS

The connection type had no association with PPVS (CS type: 18% vs right atrial type: 19%; P = .89) but there was a higher incidence of PPVS in patients with a single PV orifice than > 1 orifice (P < .001). Confluence-to-total PV area ratio (hazard ratio, 4.78, 95% CI, 1.86-12.32; P = .001) and length of drainage route (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.31; P < .001) had a 4- and 1-fold increase in the risk for PPVS in the CS type after adjustment for age and preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction. In the right atrial type, those with anomalous PV return to the RA roof were more likely to develop PPVS than to the posterior wall of the RA (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of inter-junction PV orifice correlated with PPVS development in cardiac TAPVC. The confluence-to-total PV ratio, length of drainage route, and anomalous PV return to the RA roof are important predictors for PPVS. Morphological subcategorization in this clinical setting can potentially assist in surgical decision-making.

Case report: Thoughts on two cases of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection complicated with pulmonary artery hypertension

The two primary pathological alterations of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), a rare cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD), are right heart failure and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). The timing and prognosis of surgery depend on the level of pulmonary hypertension. Surgery will not be an option after Eisenmenger syndrome appears. In light of this, it is crucial to assess patients' PAH. In order to aid in the following treatment of related types of diseases, this article studied and compared the echocardiographic features and disease development of one adult and one child TAPVC patients complicated with PAH.

The management of newborns with critical congenital heart diseases prior to transport to a cardiac center

Critical congenital heart diseases (CCHD) are important causes of mortality and morbidity in the newborn period. Even after diagnosis, their management could be seriously compromised by the unplanned delivery in hospitals with limited expertise and resources. The newborn may spend days or week before transport putting a significant burden on the neonatal team to manage such challenging diseases. In this review, the management principles of each individual pathology are discussed in the setting before transport to cardiac centers. Understanding these principles will help the treating teams evaluate and manage those complex conditions. The review avoids the advanced discussion on the management of CCHDs not applicable to the pre-transport setup. It highlights the critical elements in the maintenance of normal hemodynamics specific to each pathology and their variation.

Successful surgical repair in an older adult with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: A case report

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare, cyanotic and critical congenital heart disease where the entire left and right pulmonary veins fail to drain into the left atrium directly. Also, TAPVC-induced tissue hypoxia gradually worsens after birth. Thus, timely surgical repairs are recommended once diagnosed, particularly with pulmonary venous drainage obstruction(s). Nonetheless, in sporadic cases, patients with TAPVC survive to adulthood with no surgical treatment. Herein, we report a 46-year-old female with TAPVC, where the four pulmonary veins drain into to the innominate vein (IV) via the vertical vein. The patient developed palpitations and non-anginal chest pain following routine activities for over three months. The patient had a successful surgical correction with excellent postoperative recovery.

Anatomical attention-based prediction of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction via CTA images

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital heart disease, with which some patients suffer from postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PPVO), requiring particular follow-up strategies and treatments. PPVO prediction has important clinical significance, while building a PPVO prediction model is challenging due to limited data and class imbalance distribution. Inspired by the anatomical evidence of PPVO, which is related to the structure of the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV), we design an effective multi-task network for PPVO classification. The proposed method incorporates clinical priors and merits of the segmentation-based network into the classification task. The features learned from segmenting LA and PV are concatenated into the PPVO classification branch to constrain the learning of discriminative features. Anatomical-guided attention is applied in the aggregation of these features to restrict them focusing on TAPVC-related regions. To deal with the imbalance classification problem of PPVO, a novel classification loss derived by masked class activation map (MCAM) is designed to improve the classification performance. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of 146 patients diagnosed with supracardiac TAPVC in Shanghai Children's Medical Center and Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were enrolled in this work. The comprehensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and generalization of our proposed method. The automatic PPVO prediction model shows the potential application in helping clinicians develop follow-up strategies, thereby improving the survival rate of TAPVC patients.

Surgical repair of an obstructed mixed-type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is a rare congenital anomaly and has four anatomical subtypes of which the mixed type represents diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. When associated with obstruction, however, urgent surgical repair is needed. Herein, we present a rare case of obstructed mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with successful surgical repair.

Arrhythmic Burden of Adult Survivors With Repaired Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

Background

The long-term outcome of adults with repaired total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is poorly documented. Therefore, the present study aims to provide current clinical data on adult survivors with repaired TAPVC focusing on arrhythmia.

Methods

Clinical and imaging data (prevalence and type of arrhythmias, symptoms, surgical and medical treatment, echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance haemodynamic parameters) were retrospectively collected from 8 European centres and compared between patients with and without arrhythmias.

Results

Fifty-seven patients were included (age 20 [16-67] years [female 28, 49%]). At the last follow-up, that is, 21 (8-51) years after surgery, 79% and 93% of patients were free of symptoms and cardiac medication, respectively. The prevalence of late arrhythmias was 21%; 9 (16%) patients showed intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia (IART) and 2 (4%) ventricular arrhythmias. Patients with IART were older (P = 0.018) and 4 (7%) required antiarrhythmic medication. Three patients (5%) underwent an electrophysiological study, and another 3 (5%) underwent pacemaker implantation within 36 months after surgical correction, which were removed in 2 patients after 7 years. Early postoperative arrhythmias (P = 0.005), right ventricular dilatation (P = 0.003), and valvulopathy (P = 0.009) were more often present in patients with late IART.

Conclusions

Adult survivors after isolated-TAPVC repair presented a high prevalence of arrhythmias. Age, right ventricular dilatation, early arrhythmias, and valvular lesions are risk factors for IART. Long-term follow-up is important as some of these currently asymptomatic patients will probably develop arrhythmias in the future.

Fetal Doppler Echocardiographic Assessment Predicts Severe Postnatal Obstruction in Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

BACKGROUND

Obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a form of critical congenital heart disease that usually requires urgent postnatal intervention. Knowing which patients have severe obstruction can aid delivery planning. The authors previously developed a novel quantitative metric of pulmonary venous flow, the pulmonary venous variability index (PVVI). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that fetal PVVI and vertical vein Doppler velocities are associated with severe pulmonary vein obstruction postnatally.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of neonates with prenatally diagnosed TAPVC was performed. Patients who underwent fetal echocardiography at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with Doppler interrogation of the vertical vein were included for analysis. Twenty-nine patients met criteria (21 with heterotaxy, 18 with supracardiac TAPVC). The latest gestation fetal echocardiogram was used. Severe pulmonary vein obstruction was defined as preoperative death or urgent surgery or catheter-based intervention (first day of life). Measurements of PVVI, defined as (maximum velocity - minimum velocity)/mean velocity, were made offline. Wilcoxon rank sum models were used to assess the associations of severe obstruction and PVVI and maximum, mean, and minimum velocities.

RESULTS

The mean gestational age at the latest fetal echocardiographic examination was 35 weeks (range, 30-39 weeks). Twelve of the 29 patients (41%) met criteria for severe pulmonary vein obstruction. Lower PVVI was associated with greater risk for severe pulmonary venous obstruction (P = .008). The maximum, mean, and minimum velocities in the vertical vein were all significantly associated with severe pulmonary venous obstruction (P = .03, P = .03, and P = .007, respectively). Qualitative assessment of obstruction was not significantly associated with the outcome. Interobserver reliability for all vertical vein Doppler metrics was high (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal PVVI and maximum, mean, and minimum velocities are associated with severe postnatal pulmonary vein obstruction in TAPVC. Accurate prediction of obstructed TAPVC could allow safer delivery planning. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to identify the ideal cutoff values for these Doppler measures.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return with mixed drainage and double connection: a rare case report not previously described

Background

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return is a rare cyanotic congenital heart disease in which pulmonary veins connect to the systemic veins, right atrium, or coronary sinus. Given its variability, it is essential to define the pathway and drainage site.

Case summary

We describe a 3-day-old patient with total anomalous pulmonary venous return, in which the four pulmonary veins drained into a common vertical vein that had a double connection at the cardiac (coronary sinus) and infracardiac (portal vein) levels. The echocardiographic diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography scan. At 1.5 months, she underwent surgery by anastomosis of the venous collector with the left atrium, unroof of the coronary sinus, and clousure of its communication with right atrium. The vertical vein was ligated. There were no complications after 1 year of follow-up.

Discussion

This is an unusual anatomy that has not been described in the literature. In this article, we discuss the embryological origin. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of an accurate diagnosis of the venous pathway and its impact on surgical planning and patient prognosis.

Supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection type Ib: Morphology and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is the most common subtype of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. We aimed to describe the morphological spectrum of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and to identify risk factors for death and postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction.

METHODS

From February 2009 to June 2019, 241 patients diagnosed with supracardiac-Ia (left-sided vertical vein, n = 185) or supracardiac-Ib (right-sided connection directly to superior vena cava, n = 56) total anomalous pulmonary venous connection underwent initial surgical repair at our institute. Cases with functionally univentricular circulations or atrial isomerism were excluded. Patients' postoperative survival was described by Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox proportional hazards models and competing risk regression models were used to identify clinical risk factors for death and postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction.

RESULTS

There were 8 early deaths and 4 late deaths. The overall survivals at 30 days, 1 year, and 10 years were 97.1%, 94.8%, and 94.8%, respectively, in the supracardiac-Ia group (2.7%, 5/185) (hazard ratio, 4.8; P = .003). Five patients required reoperation for pulmonary venous obstruction, including 2 patients who required reintervention for superior vena cava syndromes (all in the supracardiac-Ib group). One patient required superior vena cava balloon dilation for superior vena cava syndromes. Multivariable analysis showed that the supracardiac-Ib group (12.5%, 7/56) had a significantly higher mortality rate than the supracardiac-Ia group (adjusted hazard ratio, 8.5, P = .008). Surgical weight less than 2.5 kg (adjusted hazard ratio, 10.8, P = .023), longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.15 per 10 minutes, P = .012), and supracardiac-Ib subtype (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.7, P = .037) were independent risk factors associated with death. The supracardiac-Ib subtype (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.8, P = .003) was an incremental risk factor associated with postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction.

CONCLUSIONS

Morphological features of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, especially the supracardiac-Ib subtype, were risk factors associated with postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction and survival. Patients with unique anatomic subtypes might require more individualized surgical planning.

The Clinical Characteristics of 88 Patients with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection and Risk Factors Associated with Early Postoperative Death

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the outcomes and risk factors of early postoperative death (within 30 days after surgery) in a single-center after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

METHODS

The clinical data of 88 children who had been diagnosed with TAPVC and underwent radical operation in the Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University (China) from January 2015 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were divided into the survival group (n = 81) and the death group (n = 7) for the analysis of preoperative and postoperative clinical data. The variables associated with early postoperative death were statistically analyzed to obtain the risk factors for early postoperative death of TAPVC.

RESULTS

Of the 88 patients included in this study, 7 (7.95%) patients died early, including 4 supracardiac and 3 infracardiac cases. Recurrent pulmonary vein obstruction occurred in 2 patients after discharged from hospital, and both were intracardiac TAPVC. Delayed death occurred in 2 children, both of which were intracardiac TAPVC cases. According to univariate analysis, the risk factors statistically significantly associated with the early postoperative death included infracardiac type (P = 0.08), preoperative maximum pulmonary vein flow velocity (P = 0.031), preoperative mechanical ventilation (P = 0.043), preoperative maximum pulmonary artery pressure (P = 0.000), intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass time (P = 0.003) and intraoperative aortic cross-clamp time (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

Infracardiac type of TAPVC, preoperative maximum pulmonary vein flow velocity, preoperative mechanical ventilation, preoperative maximum pulmonary artery pressure, intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamp time are the risk factors for early postoperative death.

Application of sutureless technique in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair

The sutureless technique was initially used for the treatment of postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction (PVO) in patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). However, as the effectiveness of the sutureless technique has been confirmed and widely developed, the sutureless technique has been used for the primary treatment of high-risk children with TAPVC who are at high risk of PVO. Compared with traditional surgery, the sutureless technique significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative PVO, re-intervention rate due to PVO, and postoperative mortality, but there are potential complications such as pericardial and confluent venous anastomosis, phrenic nerve damage, air embolism. In addition, the sutureless technique is not effective in dealing with the progressive stenosis of the pulmonary veins after sutureless surgery and diffuse stenosis of extrapulmonary proximal veins and intrapulmonary veins. These make the efficacy and safety of this procedure controversial. This paper reviews the research status of the sutureless technique in TAPVC repair at home and abroad over the years.

Echocardiographic evaluation of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: Comparison of obstructed and unobstructed type

This study aims to compare the differences between obstructed and unobstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) using echocardiography, and to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO).We conducted a retrospective study of 70 patients with TAPVC between 2014 and 2019. The morphologic and hemodynamic echocardiographic parameters of patients were observed and measured, and the parameters between obstructed and unobstructed TAPVC were compared. The clinical and echocardiographic parameter differences between the two groups were used for ROC curve analysis.Obstructed TAPVC was found in 30 (42.9%) of 70 patients. Between obstructed and unobstructed TAPVC, there were significant differences in atrial septal defect size, pulmonary artery maximum velocity (PA Vmax ), peak E velocity of mitral valve, left ventricular fractional shortening, left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume and the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus, but there was no significant difference in birth weight. The first diagnosis age of obstructed TAPVC was earlier than unobstructed type. The ROC curve analysis for the first diagnosis age showed the sensitivity and specificity were 76.7%, 80% respectively. The ROC curve analysis for the PA Vmax showed the sensitivity and specificity were 88.5%, 67.6% respectively.Patients with TAPVC had a high incidence of PVO. The presence of PVO can affect the size of atrial septal defect and the closure of the ductus arteriosus, cause significant changes in PA Vmax, peak E velocity of mitral valve, left ventricular fractional shortening, left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume, lead to earlier symptoms and earlier first diagnosis age. The first diagnosis age and PA Vmax were excellent values since they associated with PVO.

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance/European Society of Cardiovascular Imaging/American Society of Echocardiography/Society for Pediatric Radiology/North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging Guidelines for the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in pediatric congenital and acquired heart disease : Endorsed by The American Heart Association

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been utilized in the management and care of pediatric patients for nearly 40 years. It has evolved to become an invaluable tool in the assessment of the littlest of hearts for diagnosis, pre-interventional management and follow-up care. Although mentioned in a number of consensus and guidelines documents, an up-to-date, large, stand-alone guidance work for the use of CMR in pediatric congenital 36 and acquired 35 heart disease endorsed by numerous Societies involved in the care of these children is lacking. This guidelines document outlines the use of CMR in this patient population for a significant number of heart lesions in this age group and although admittedly, is not an exhaustive treatment, it does deal with an expansive list of many common clinical issues encountered in daily practice.

Prognosis and related risk factors analysis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection correction

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to analyze the surgical outcomes of our center biventricular correction with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) and to explore the risk factors associated with postoperative mortality and postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO).

METHODS

In total, 104 patients diagnosed with TAPVC and underwent biventricular correction from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2021, in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University were included. The primary endpoints were early and late postoperative mortality and postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction.

RESULTS

Multivariable analysis indicated that prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was the only independent risk factor for early postoperative mortality. Emergency surgery, preoperative moderate, and severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), and prolonged CPB time were independent risk factors for postoperative PVO. According to ROC curve analysis, the cut-off value of CPB time for predicting early mortality was 148 min (AUC = 0.916, 95% CI 0.811-1.000).

CONCLUSION

In the past 12 years, with surgical technique and perioperative management advancement, the prognosis of children treated with TAPVC biventricular correction in our center has generally improved. However, surgical repair remains challenging, and early mortality remains high in children with prolonged CPB time during surgery. Postoperative PVO often occurs in children who underwent emergency surgery, combined with moderate and severe PH and prolonged CPB time.

Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance/European Society of Cardiovascular Imaging/American Society of Echocardiography/Society for Pediatric Radiology/North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging Guidelines for the Use of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Pediatric Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease: Endorsed by The American Heart Association

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance has been utilized in the management and care of pediatric patients for nearly 40 years. It has evolved to become an invaluable tool in the assessment of the littlest of hearts for diagnosis, pre-interventional management and follow-up care. Although mentioned in a number of consensus and guidelines documents, an up-to-date, large, stand-alone guidance work for the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in pediatric congenital 36 and acquired 35 heart disease endorsed by numerous Societies involved in the care of these children is lacking. This guidelines document outlines the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in this patient population for a significant number of heart lesions in this age group and although admittedly, is not an exhaustive treatment, it does deal with an expansive list of many common clinical issues encountered in daily practice.

Peripheral Blood Transcripts Predict Preoperative Obstructive Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection

The lack of accessible noninvasive tools to examine the molecular alterations limits our understanding of the causes of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), as well as the identification of effective operational strategies. Here, we consecutively enrolled peripheral leukocyte transcripts of 26 preoperative obstructive and 22 non-obstructive patients with TAPVC. Two-hundred and fifty six differentially expressed mRNA and 27 differentially expressed long noncoding RNA transcripts were dysregulated. The up-regulated mRNA was enriched in the hydrogen peroxide catabolic process, response to mechanical stimulus, neutrophil degranulation, hemostasis, response to bacterium, and the NABA CORE MATRISOME pathway, all of which are associated with the development of fibrosis. Furthermore, we constructed predictive models using multiple machine-learning algorithms and tested the performance in the validation set. The mRNA NR3C2 and lncRNA MEG3 were screened based on multiple iterations. The random forest prediction model can predict preoperative obstruction patients in the validation set with high accuracy (area under curve = 1; sensitivity = 1). These data highlight the potential of peripheral leukocyte transcripts to evaluate obstructive-related pathophysiological alterations, leading to precision healthcare solutions that could improve patient survival after surgery. It also provides a novel direction for the study of preoperative obstructive TAPVC.

Surgical Outcomes of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Repair

Background and Objectives: Over the years, surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) outcomes have improved, however, morbidity and mortality still remain significant. This study aims to assess the early and long-term outcomes of surgical treatment of TAPVC children, operated on between 2006 and 2016, in one pediatric center in Poland. Materials and Methods: Diagnostics, surgical treatment, and follow-up data from 83 patients were collected. In addition, survival and risk factor analyses, control echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic examinations were performed. Results: In the analyzed group (n = 83), there were seven hospital deaths (within 30 days after the operation) (8.4%) and nine late deaths (10.8%). The mean follow-up time was 5.5 years, and, for patients who survived, it was 7.1 years. The mean survival time in patients with completed follow-up (n = 70) was 10.3 years; the overall five-year survival rate was 78.4%. Independent mortality risk factors were type I TAPVC, single ventricle physiology, time from admission to operation, intensive care unit stay, postoperative hospital stay, and temporary kidney insufficiency requiring dialysis. Conclusions: The presence of single ventricle physiology and the supracardiac subtype of TAPVC might be negative prognostic factors, while normal heart physiology presents with good post-repair results. This study indicates that cardiac arrhythmias may occur. Morbidity and mortality, related to surgical TAPVC correction, still remain significant.

Infracardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage: A Case Report

Anomalous pulmonary venous drainage is a rare cause of congenital heart disease with varied clinical presentation. Symptoms can differ depending on the degree of venous obstruction. An 8-day-old term baby presented with tachypnea and was subsequently found to have an unobstructed infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. She underwent an uneventful surgical repair. The diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage can be delayed or missed, and a high index of suspicion is necessary.

Clinical Nomogram for Predicting the Prognosis of Patients With Pulmonary Venous Obstruction After Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Repair

Background

The aim of this study was to establish a nomogram to quantify the risk of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) and to make a scientific decision through the decision curve.

Methods

In total, 151 PVO patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) repair in our hospital from December 2008 to December 2015 were involved in this study. A nomogram was generated based on the contribution weights of variables, which were found out by logistic analysis. The optimal clinical decision point was determined by the decision analysis and clinical impact curve, which could assess the net benefit between the nomogram and each independent risk factor for postoperative PVO.

Result

Pulmonary venous obstruction with TAPVC repair was found to be positively and independently correlated with preoperative pulmonary hypertension, surgical methods, and preoperative pulmonary venous stenosis.

Conclusion(s)

The study introduced a novel model to aid in clinical decisions making for the patients with TAPVC individually, which may shed light on the evaluation of PVO risk.

Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Patching for Recurrent Pulmonary Venous Obstructions

Recurrent postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction after total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair is a challenging complication. Here, we present such a case that required four reoperations, focusing on a sutureless method with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene patch for the fourth reoperation. The use of artificial patch materials to reconstruct the atrial septum and neoatrial roof could be a promising alternative approach of this method to expand its applicability.

Building A Risk Prediction Model for Postoperative Pulmonary Vein Obstruction via Quantitative Analysis of CTA Images

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare but mortal congenital heart disease in children and can be repaired by surgical operations. However, some patients may suffer from pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) after surgery with insufcient blood supply, necessitating special follow-up strategy and treatment. Therefore, it is a clinically important yet challenging problem to predict such patients before surgery. In this paper, we address this issue and propose a computational framework to determine the risk factors for postoperative PVO (PPVO) from computed tomography angiography (CTA) images and build the PPVO risk prediction model. From clinical experiences, such risk factors are likely from the left atrium (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) of the patient. Thus, 3D models of LA and PV are rst reconstructed from low-dose CTA images. Then, a feature pool is built by computing different morphological features from 3D models of LA and PV, and the coupling spatial features of LA and PV. Finally, four risk factors are identied from the feature pool using the machine learning techniques, followed by a risk prediction model. As a result, not only PPVO patients can be effectively predicted but also qualitative risk factors reported in the literature can now be quantied. Finally, the risk prediction model is evaluated on two independent clinical datasets from two hospitals. The model can achieve the AUC values of 0.88 and 0.87 respectively, demonstrating its effectiveness in risk prediction.

Abnormal drainage pathway of a supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage in a neonate: a case report

Supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage is commonly associated with a left-sided ascending vein draining into innominate vein. We present a case of a newborn with a right-sided ascending vein, draining into the right superior caval vein with stenosis at the SVC-ascending vein junction, posing a surgical dilemma in corrective surgery. Usage of three-dimensional computed tomographic scan was essential in delineating the anatomy and aiding surgery. The case demonstrates the rarity of this type of cardiac disease and the complications that develop.

Two approaches for newborns with critical congenital heart disease: a comparative study

BACKGROUND

Prenatal diagnosis and planned peripartum care is an unexplored concept in China. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the "prenatal diagnosis and postnatal treatment integrated model" for newborns with critical congenital heart disease.

METHODS

The medical records of neonates (≤ 28 days) admitted to Fuwai Hospital were reviewed retrospectively from January 2019 to December 2020. The patients were divided into "prenatal diagnosis and postnatal treatment integrated group" (n = 47) and "non-integrated group" (n = 69).

RESULTS

The age of admission to the hospital and the age at surgery were earlier in the integrated group than in the non-integrated group (5.2 ± 7.2 days vs. 11.8 ± 8.0 days, P < 0.001; 11.9 ± 7.0 days vs. 16.5 ± 7.7 days, P = 0.001, respectively). The weight at surgery also was lower in the integrated group than in the non-integrated group (3.3 ± 0.4 kg vs. 3.6 ± 0.6 kg, P = 0.010). Longer postoperative recovery time was needed in the integrated group, with a median mechanical ventilation time of 97 h (interquartile range 51-259 h) vs. 69 h (29-168 h) (P = 0.030) and with intensive care unit time of 13.0 days (8.0-21.0 days) vs. 9.0 days (4.5-16.0 days) (P = 0.048). No significant difference was observed in the all-cause mortality (2.1 vs. 8.7%, P = 0.238), but it was significantly lower in the integrated group for transposition of the great arteries (0 vs. 18.8%, log rank P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS

The prenatal diagnosis and postnatal treatment integrated model could significantly shorten the diagnosis and hospitalization interval of newborns, and surgical intervention could be performed with a lower risk of death, especially for transposition of the great arteries.

The Outcomes of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection in Neonates-10-Year Experience at a Single Center

Background: Recent developments in surgical techniques and hospital care have led to improved outcomes following repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). However, surgical repair of neonatal TAPVC remains associated with a high risk of postoperative mortality and pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). We conducted this retrospective study to identify risk factors associated with surgical outcomes in the neonatal population.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted for all 127 neonates who underwent operations for isolated TAPVC from January 2009 to January 2019.

Results: Preoperative PVO occurred in 33 (26.0%) of the 127 patients. Fifty patients (39.4%) required tracheal intubation before the operation. Twenty-three patients (18.1%) underwent emergency surgery. There were 11 (8.7%) early deaths. Significant risk factors were prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (p = 0.013) and increased postoperative central venous pressure (CVP, p = 0.036). There were 5 (4.3%) late deaths within 1 year of repair. The risk factors for overall death were preoperative acidosis (p = 0.001), prolonged CPB time (p < 0.001) and increased postoperative CVP (p = 0.007). In particular, mortality was significantly higher (p = 0.007) with a postoperative CVP > 8 mmHg. With an increase in use of sutureless techniques (p = 0.001) and decrease in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (p = 0.009) over the past 5 years, postoperative mortality greatly decreased (21.2%: 6.7%, p = 0.016). Postoperative PVO occurred in 15 patients (11.8%). Risk factors were mixed TAPVC (p = 0.037), preoperative acidosis (p = 0.001) and prolonged CPB time (p = 0.006).

Conclusion: Although postoperative mortality of neonatal TAPVC has dropped to 6.7% over the past 5 years, it is still relatively high. Risk factors for postoperative death include preoperative acidosis, prolonged CPB time and increased postoperative CVP. Mortality was significantly higher for neonates with an average CVP > 8 mmHg 24 h after surgery.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection mimicking hypoplastic left heart syndrome

A newborn with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection vein presented the small left ventricle with z score of -7.5, retrograde blood supply in the transverse arch, and the dutcus-dependent systemic circulation. The patient underwent the repair of the anomalous pulmonary vein and bilateral pulmonary arterial banding soon after the birth and then transcatheter pulmonary arterial debanding at the age of 10 months because of an appropriate growth of the left ventricle.

Emergency surgical treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

BACKGROUND

This study explored the strategy and effect of emergency surgical treatment for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

METHODS

From March 2009 to February 2020, 78 patients with TAPVC underwent emergency surgical correction. There were 51 males and 27 females. The median age was 39.5 days, and the median weight was 4.0 kg. Preoperative percutaneous oxygen saturation was 80.8% ± 4.5%.

RESULTS

Of the cases investigated, seven died during the perioperative period; 16 had a delayed chest closure; 19 had early pulmonary vein obstruction; two had secondary tracheal intubation; one had a brain complication; and one had a third-degree atrioventricular block. Low weight, younger age, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross-clamp time were identified as risk factors for early mortality. During the follow-up from 4 to 137 months, 12 cases did not respond to follow-up requests. Ten patients died within 1-6 months after discharge. One patient underwent reoperation due to pulmonary vein obstruction. The longer hospital stay after the operation and intensive care unit time were identified as risk factors for late mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency surgery for severe TAPVC patients after admission achieved good short-term results. Prenatal diagnosis should be strengthened to save more patients. The higher late mortality rate of such patients indicates that post-discharge management should be strengthened to reduce the occurrence of post-discharge deaths.

Pulmonary Vein Stenosis-Evolving Surgical Management of a Challenging Disease

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is an extremely challenging clinical problem in congenital heart disease. It has traditionally required multimodal therapy given its complex underlying pathophysiology. As with other modalities, surgical therapy has undergone tremendous evolution since the 1950s. These evolving strategies have been based upon an improved understanding of the substrates that cause PVS and recurrent vein obstruction. More recent anatomic-based surgical strategies have focused on the pulmonary vein course, and how adjacent mediastinal structures can create a fulcrum effect on the pulmonary veins as they pass from the lung parenchyma to the left atrium. The consequent angulation of pulmonary veins creates altered wall shear stress and likely serves as a nidus for recurrent PVS. Encouraging early results suggest that eliminating pulmonary vein angulation and shortening/straightening the pulmonary vein course may prove effective in surgically managing PVS.