Christian Kreutzer

Experience with one and a half ventricle repair

OBJECTIVEnThis article presents a 10-year experience with one and a half ventricle repair for right ventricular hypoplasia or dysfunction.nnnMETHODSnFrom November 1986 to December 1996, 30 patients (mean age 6.7 +/- 8.5 years, range 4 months-40 years) with functionally abnormal right ventricles underwent a bidirectional Glenn shunt as part of the repair. Diagnoses included pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (n = 15), Ebstein anomaly (n = 5), levotransposition of the great arteries (n = 3), pulmonary stenosis with right ventricular hypoplasia (n = 2), tetralogy of Fallot (n = 3), dextrotransposition of the great arteries (n = l), and Uhl anomaly (n = l). Concomitantly performed cardiac procedures included atrial septal defect closure (n = 27), fenestration of the atrial septum (n = 2), right ventricular cavity augmentation (n = 8), right ventricular outflow tract enlargement (n = 6), transannular patch (n = 13), modified Blalock-Taussig shunt closure (n = 16), tricuspid replacement (n = 3), tricuspid repair (n = 2), Rastelli procedure (n = 3), tricuspid commissurotomy (n = 2), and double switch (n = l).nnnRESULTSnThere were 2 early deaths (6.6%) and 1 late death. Mean early postoperative superior vena caval pressure was 14. 12 +/- 3.55 mm Hg and mean right atrial pressure was 10.3 +/- 5.16 mm Hg. Early oxygen saturation in the operating room with an inspired oxygen fraction of 1 was 97.2 +/- 2.5; oxygen saturation was 92.3 +/- 4.8 on room air at discharge. Mean oxygen saturations were 93.6% +/- 3.6% at 1 year of follow-up (P =.10) and 93.5% +/- 4. 1% at 5 years (P =.12). Overall survival was 90% at 5 years, and 21 patients (77%) were in New York Heart Association class I, 5 (18%) were in class II, and 1 (2.7%) was in class III.nnnCONCLUSIONnThis procedure provides a valid alternative for correction of right ventricle hypoplasia or dysfunction. Early and intermediate follow-up results compare favorably with those of the Fontan procedure, but long-term follow-up is needed.

Five- to fifteen-year follow-up of fresh autologous pericardial valved conduits.

OBJECTIVEnEvaluate long-term results of autologous pericardial valved conduits in the pulmonary outflow.nnnMETHODSnBetween June 1983 and October 1993, 82 conduits were placed in the outflow of the venous ventricle. Patients who received homografts (n = 2 patients), heterografts (n = 3 patients), and valveless conduits (n = 19 patients) and those patients who died within 90 days after the operation were excluded. Fifty-four survivors of pulmonary outflow reconstruction with fresh autologous pericardial valved conduits were followed up from 5 to 15 years (mean, 7.47 +/- 2.8 years). Diagnosis include d -transposition of great arteries (n = 16 patients), L -transposition of great arteries (n = 14 patients), tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n = 11 patients), truncus arteriosus (n = 10 patients), and double-outlet ventricle (n = 3 patients). Implantation age ranged from 0.25 to 24 years (mean, 5.2 +/- 4.2 years). Median conduit diameter was 16 mm. Two-dimensional echocardiographic Doppler evaluations were made yearly; 9 patients underwent cardiac catheterization. Reintervention for stenosis was indicated when the pressure gradient exceeded 50 mm Hg.nnnRESULTSnThree late deaths were unrelated to the conduit. Thirty-five autologous pericardial valved conduits increased in diameter (1-7 mm), remained unchanged in 15 patients, and reduced 1 to 2 mm in 4 patients. The median diameter was 18 mm at the last evaluation (P =.0001). Eight patients required conduit-related reoperation 3 to 8 years after the implantation. Two patients underwent balloon dilation of the autologous pericardial valved conduit. No conduit had to be replaced. Freedom from reintervention at 5 and 10 years was 92% and 76%, being 100% at 10 years for conduits larger than 16 mm at time of implantation.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAutologous pericardial valved conduits show excellent long-term results and compare favorably with other conduits.

Long-term follow-up of autologous pericardial valved conduits

BACKGROUNDnThe aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of the use of an autologous pericardial valved conduit in the outflow tract of the venous ventricle in congenital heart malformations.nnnMETHODSnFifty-one patients were followed up for a period of 12 to 120 months; 30 for more than 36 months and 13 for more than 72 months. All were evaluated clinically and by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Eight patients were recatheterized. Postoperative evaluation included serial measurement of pressure gradients and the conduits diameter at the proximal, valvular, and distal levels. Reoperation because of stenosis was indicated when the gradient across the right ventricular outflow was greater than 50 mm Hg. The reoperation rate in relation with postoperative time, diameter of the autologous pericardial valved conduit at the time of implantation, and malformation was statistically analyzed.nnnRESULTSnIn 27 patients the conduit increased its diameter 1 to 7 mm. In 20 patients the diameter remained unchanged, whereas a reduction was noted in 4. Conduit survival free of reoperation for the whole group was 89.9% at 5 years. Conduit survival free of reoperation was 100% at 5 and 7 years for conduits larger than 16 mm at the time of implantation. It was 95% (standard deviation = 4.8%) at 5 years and 72.3% at 7 years for those 16 mm or less. For patients operated after January 1, 1986 (technical modification), conduit survival free of reoperation was 95.4% at 7 years postoperatively.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThese results compare favorably with those of other available conduits.

Emergency ligation of anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery

We report two cases of successful emergency ligation of anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in patients with previous cardiac arrest. Both patients had regained marginal cardiac output after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and had maximal doses of inotropic support. The ALCAPA ligation was then performed as a life-saving procedure in the absence of any kind of mechanical circulatory support.

Tetralogy of fallot with absent pulmonary valve: A surgical technique for complete repair

Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve syndrome (TOF-APVS) is commonly associated with tracheobronchial compression caused by aneurysmal dilation of the main pulmonary artery and its branches. Surgical repair of this anomaly is focused on correction of the tetralogy of Fallot and relief of the airway compression. Several surgical techniques have been described, such as plication of the pulmonary arteries and valve insertion, 1 homograft interpositions, 2

A new method for reliable fenestration in extracardiac conduit Fontan operations

A fenestrated extracardiac conduit Fontan operation was performed with a new method in 5 patients by means of a pericardial tube anastomosed end to end with the inferior inlet of the right atrium.

Early and late results of fresh autologous pericardial valved conduits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the early and late results of an autologous pericardial valved conduit in the pulmonary circulation. Between 1983 and 1997, 86 autologous pericardial valved conduits were used to achieve venous ventricle-pulmonary artery continuity. The mean patient age at the time of implantation was 4.16 +/- 4.10 years (15 days to 24 years). All patients had two-dimensional postoperative and yearly Doppler echocardiograms in which the valve function and the presence of distal, valvar, and proximal stenosis were evaluated. There were 13 early deaths (15%). Twenty-one patients (24.4%) showed trivial, 54 (62.8%) mild, nine (10.4%) moderate, and two (2.3%) severe pulmonary regurgitation in the early postoperative period. The 73 survivors were monitored from 1 to 15 years (mean, 6.5 years; median, 7.1 years). There were five late deaths. The mean conduit diameter at the time of implantation was 15.8 mm, increasing to 18.21 mm at last evaluation (P <.0001). There were nine reoperations, with only one conduit replacement. Freedom from reintervention at 5 and 10 years was 89% and 80%, respectively. In conclusion, autologous pericardial valved conduits provide good early and excellent long-term results that compare favorably with those of other conduits. Copyright 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company

Cavo Atriopulmonary Anastomosis Via a Nonprosthetic Medial Tunnel

Abstract A surgical technique is described to perform a total bypass of the venous ventricle (TBPVV) via a cavo atriopulmonary anastomosis wherein a medial atrial tunnel is constructed using autologous tissue. The procedure offers the advantage of maintaining low atrial pressure at the sinus node area without the use of prosthetic material. It also represents a good method for conversion of a bidirectional Glenn to a TBPVV avoiding surgical damage of the sinus node area.

Preoperative management of congestive heart failure in neonates: the closed hood

In this study we report the results of the use of a closed hood with no external administration of CO2 to increase pulmonary vascular resistance by lowering the inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) and raising the inspired fraction of carbon dioxide (FiCO2) in patients with congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary blood flow. Between December 1995 and May 1996, 9 neonates (F:5, M:4) were admitted. Each study patient was assigned to clinical classes using a 1 to 4 classification. Ages ranged between 2 and 30 days (mean 18), weight between 2.25 and 3.65 kg (mean 2.89). A plastic hood, closed on the top with a plastic membrane and with the gas entrance open to room air was placed over the head of the patients. Patients increase pCO2 by rebreathing their own expired CO2. After 24 h of the onset of the treatment the media of points of congestive heart failure 1 to 4 classification decrease from a mean of 4 to a mean of 2.28+/-0.44 (p=0.001). A statistically significant improvement in symptoms and lowering of PO2 and pH while raising pCO2 has been demonstrated in this study.

Augmentation of Bridging Leaflets in Repair of Atrioventricular Canal Defects

Left atrioventricular (AV) valve regurgitation is the most common complication after a atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD) repair. Despite what appears to be a less complex repair, patients with partial and transitional AV canal have higher reoperation rates for left AV valve regurgitation and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. Retraction of bridging leaflets with secondary attachments to the septal crest commonly produces increased tension and flattening of the medial left AV valve leaflet and LVOT obstruction after cleft closure. We describe a novel technique of detachment and patch augmentation of bridging leaflets to avoid these complications.