Denise A. Hayes

Ventriculocoronary fistulae in a patient with transposition of the great arteries, hypoplastic left heart, and pulmonary atresia.

We present a rare case of ventriculocoronary fistulae in a patient with d-transposition of the great arteries, hypoplastic left heart, and pulmonary atresia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this anatomic variant, and raises an important discussion about the development and implications of such fistulous connections.

Repair of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Right Pulmonary Artery: A Series of Nine Cases.

Background: Repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery presents a particular technical challenge to the congenital cardiac surgeon. There is disagreement in the literature over the optimal technique for this defect, with some authors advocating for unroofing of the periaortic segment of coronary artery, while others prefer direct aortic reimplantation of the artery. Methods: We performed a retrospective study examining outcomes of patients who were repaired for this anomaly at our institution. In-hospital and outpatient follow-up data were analyzed. Results: Nine patients were identified. Most patients had poor left ventricular function at the time of surgery. All patients in our series were repaired using the direct coronary transfer technique. To date there were no mortalities among the study participants. At last follow-up, all patients with available echocardiograms had normal ventricular function. One patient required reoperation for anastomotic stenosis. Conclusions: We demonstrate that using the technique of direct coronary transfer to the aorta, we have achieved excellent results with repair of this defect.

Beyond Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: The Spectrum of Congenital Heart Disease Associated with Left Ventricular Hypoplasia

Left ventricular hypoplasia complicates other forms of congenital heart disease in addition to the classic “hypoplastic left heart syndrome.” Within this heterogeneous group, subtle anatomic differences determine surgical management and ultimate prognosis. Thus, an individualized approach is necessary to optimize outcomes in this complex population.