ObjectiveTo analyze the mid-long-term outcomes of surgical balloon valvuloplasty (SBV) for right ventricular decompression in the treatment of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS).MethodsClinical data of consecutive 91 patients who were diagnosed with PA/IVS and underwent SBV in our institution from January 2005 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, including 52 (57.1%) males and 39 (42.9%) females. The median age was 3 months (1 d, 24 months) and the median weight was 4.1 (2.5, 12.0) kg.ResultsThe SBV was performed in all patients, and 62 of whom received other simultaneous surgeries, including ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA, 33 patients), ligation of PDA with modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (23 patients), ligation of PDA with bidirectional Glenn shunt (6 patients). There was no early postoperative death. The median follow-up time was 8.8 (2.5, 13.4) years, 4 patients were lost. There were 7 (8.0%) deaths and 1 (1.1%) patient with a re-SBV for pulmonary stenosis. The one and a half ventricular repair was performed in 5 (5.7%) patients and Fontan procedure in 2 (2.3%) patients. In addition, the mean Z-value of tricuspid valve annulus was −1.7±1.5, which was significant bigger than that before the operation (t=5.587, P<0.001).ConclusionSBV via right ventricular outflow tract for right ventricular decompression in the treatment of PA/IVS is safe and reliable. The majority of patients can receive biventricular repair instead of single ventricular palliation by SBV with individually customized shunt.
Objective To investigate the surgical treatment methods and effects for pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PAVSD) in elder children and adults in order to promote the treatment effects. Methods From October 1996 to October 2008, we performed stage1 or staged biventricular repair on 39 PAVSD patients including 21 males and 18 females, ranging from 8 to 27 years old with an average age of 13.43 years. There were 14 cases of type A, 11 cases of type B, and 14 cases of type C. Among them, 23 patients underwent stage1 radical repair in which either human blood vessel with valves or bovine jugular vein with valves were used to connect the pulmonary artery and the right ventricular outflow tract. In these 23 patients, 3 patients complicated with major aortopulmonary collaterals(MAPCAs) underwent unifocalization (UF) operation. The other 16 patients received staged repair, including 9 cases of systemic to pulmonary artery shunt and 7 of staged radical cure. Results There were 6 perioperative deaths with a total mortality of 15.38%(6/39), including 4 (17.39%) stage1 radical repair cases and 2 (12.50%) staged radical repair cases. The former 4 were all type C patients, dying from low cardiac output due to increased pulmonary arterial pressure. In the latter 2 deaths, 1 was a type B secondary shunt patient, and the other was a type C staged radical repair case, both of whom died of bleeding caused by aortic injury in the succeeding operations. Followup was done on 28 cases with a followup rate of 84.85%. The followup time ranged from 14.0 months to 9.2 years with 5 cases missing. No patient died during the followup, and 9 patients maintained their cardiac function at class Ⅰ, 13 at class Ⅱ, 5 at class Ⅲ and 1 at class Ⅳ. Three patients had aortic valve regurgitation of small to medium volume, the treatment of which included an administration of oral potassium diuretic medication and regular follow-up. Conclusion Pulmonary vessels of elder children and adults with PAVSD are usually injured severely and oftentimes it is complicated with MAPCAs. Standard for stage1 radical repair should be defined more strictly based on the present one.
ObjectiveTo identify the pulmonary artery growth, restenosis and regurgitation of the valve after right ventricle outflow (RVOT) reconstruction with pericardial tube in patients with pulmonary atresia and ventricle septal defect (PA/VSD). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 41 patients with PA/VSD undergoing PA/VSD repair to reconstruct RVOT for radical or palliative repair in our hospital from November 2002 through September 2013. There were 25 males and 16 females with operation age of 4.00 months to 22.70 years (56.60±63.92 months). Late pulmonary artery growth, pulmonary artery, and tricuspid regurgitation of the patients were followed up. Pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect repair with pericardial tube were performed in the patients. ResultsThere were 5 (12.19%) early hospital deaths. Thirty-three patients were followed up for 4.00 months to 10.75 years (3.00±2.35 years). Three patients (7.31%) were lost during the follow-up.One patient was dead after stageⅡsurgery. There was no significant growth on the diameters of the tube and the pulmonary artery branches during the follow-up. There were 10 patients with severe stenosis in pericardial tube and 5 patients with moderate or severe stenosis in pulmonary artery branches. The echocardiography suggested the pulmonary artery and tricuspid regurgitation were more serious (P<0.05). No correlation was found between regurgitation quantity and follow-up time. ConclusionThe early postoperative results is satisfactory. However, there is no potential growth on the pericardial tube. So the patients should be followed up closely for restenosis.
Pulmonary atresia (PA) with ventricluar septal defect(VSD) is a complex congenital heart disease. The lack of knowledge on embryology, anatomy and pathophysiology of this disease with or without heterogenetic major aortopulmonary collateral arteries(MAPCA)leads to chaos of its surgical classification and management as well as poor results of surgical management. The operative technique in this field has been advancing a lot since the innovation of unifocalization. The surgical result is getting better and better, boosted by the updating of the principle and knowledge, but there is still a large room for progress. We reviewed the literatures on classification,surgical strategy, procedures and operationrelated issues and put them together here to delineate its past, present and future.
ObjectiveTo analyze the outcomes of complicated congenital heart diseases (CCHD) patients accepting multiple (>2) re-sternotomy operations.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 146 patients undergoing multiple cardiac re-sternotomy operations between 2015 and 2019 in our center. There were 95 males and 51 females with an age of 4.3 (3.1-6.8) years and a weight of 15.3 (13.4-19.0) kg at last operation.ResultsThe top three cardiac malformations were pulmonary atresia (n=51, 34.9%), double outflow of right ventricle (n=36, 24.7%) and functional single ventricle (n=36, 24.7%). A total of 457 sternotomy procedures were performed, with 129 (88.3%) patients undergoing three times of operations and 17 (11.7%) patients undergoing more than three times. Fifty-two (35.6%) patients received bi-ventricular repair, 63 (43.1%) patients received Fontan-type procedures, and 31 (21.2%) patients underwent palliative procedures. Ten (6.8%) patients experienced major accidents during sternotomy, including 7 (4.8%) patients of urgent femoral artery and venous bypass. Eleven (7.5%) patients died with 10 (6.8%) deaths before discharge. The follow-up time was 20.0 (5.8-40.1) months, and 1 patient died during the follow-up. The number of operations was an independent risk factor for the death after operation.ConclusionSeries operations of Fontan in functional single ventricle, repeated stenosis of pulmonary artery or conduit of right ventricular outflow tract post bi-ventricular repair are the major causes for the reoperation. Multiple operations are a huge challenge for CCHD treatment, which should be avoided.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience and lessons of right ventricular decompression in children with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) and to reflect on the strategies of right ventricular decompression.MethodsThe clinical data of 12 children with PA/IVS who underwent right ventricular decompression in our hospital from March 2015 to December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 10 males and 2 females with a median age at the time of surgery was 5 d (range, 1-627 d). Correlation analysis between the pulmonary valve transvalvular pressure gradient and changes in Z score of tricuspid valves after decompression was performed.ResultsOne patient died of refractory hypoxemia due to circulatory shunt postoperatively and family members gave up treatment. There were 2 (16.67%) patients received postoperative intervention. The pulmonary transvalvular gradient after decompression was 31.95±21.75 mm Hg. Mild pulmonary regurgitation was found in 7 patients, moderate in 2 patients, and massive in 1 patient. The median time of mechanical ventilation was 30.50 h (range, 6.00-270.50 h), and the average duration of ICU stay was 164.06±87.74 h. The average postoperative follow-up time was 354.82±331.37 d. At the last follow-up, the average Z score of tricuspid valves was 1.32±0.71, the median pressure gradient between right ventricle and main pulmonary artery was 41.75 mm Hg (range, 21-146 mm Hg) and the average percutaneous oxygen saturation was 92.78%±3.73%. Two children underwent percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvoplasty at 6 and 10 months after surgery, respectively, with the rate of reintervention-free of 81.8%. There was no significant correlation between pulmonary transvalvular gradients after decompression and changes in Z score of tricuspid valves (r=–0.506, P=0.201).ConclusionFor children with PA/IVS, the simple pursuit of adequate decompression during right ventricular decompression may lead to severe pulmonary dysfunction, increase the risk of ineffective circular shunt, and induce refractory hypoxemia. The staged decompression can ensure the safety and effectiveness for initial surgery and reduce the risk of postoperative death.