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Biomedical subjects

C Planche

Publications and source records attributed to C Planche.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Late outcome after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND: Early and midterm results of the arterial switch operation (ASO) in transposition of the great arteries (TGA) are good, but late outcome data in large populations are still few. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve hundred patients had an ASO for TGA between 1982 and 1999, with prospective follow-up of 1095 survivors. Outcome measures included late death, reoperation, aortic insufficiency (AI), pulmonary stenosis (PS), and coronary anomaly. Median follow-up was 4.9 years (range 0.5 to 17 years). Late death occurred in 32 patients; survival was 88% at both 10 and 15 years. The hazard function for death declined rapidly, with no deaths after 5 years. Late mortality was correlated with reintervention and major events in the intensive care unit. Reoperation was performed in 103 patients, more often in complex TGA; the cause was mainly PS. Freedom from reintervention was 82% at 10 and 15 years, with a hazard function that declined rapidly but slowly increased after 3 years. At the last follow-up, PS was present in 3.9% of patients, and grade II or more AI was present in 3.2%, with a cumulative incidence of 9% at 15 years. Among the 278 patients who had a coronary arteriography, 8% had coronary lesions. Normal left ventricle and sinus rhythm were seen in 96.4% and 98.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fifteen years after ASO, late mortality was low, with no deaths after 5 years; reoperation, mainly owing to PS, occurred throughout the follow-up. AI and coronary obstruction are rare but warrant further follow-up. Good left ventricular function and sinus rhythm are maintained.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

Long-term results after valvotomy for congenital aortic valvar stenosis in children.

As interest increase in the Ross procedure performed as a therapeutic option for children with congenital aortic valvar stenosis, it becomes increasinly important to know the late results of aortic valvotomy in this population. We have therefore examined retrospectively the medical records of 121 consecutives survivors undergoing aortic valvotomy before 10 years of age between 1974 and 1992. The mean age at the first valvotomy was 29 months, with a range from 3 days to 10 years. The mean duration of follow up was 9.4 years, with a range from 1.6 to 22 years. Fifteen patients (12.3%; 70% CL: 10-16) died: 9 following reoperation, and 6 late after surgery. Death was related to the hearts in 86% of cases. The actuarial survival rate was 79% (70% CL: 72/84) at 10 years. Young age at the first valvotomy, and the number of procedures, emerged as risk factors of secondary mortality. Reoperations on the aortic valve, 73 in all, were required in 56 patients. The second procedure was done after a mean interval of 6 years, with a range from 1 day to 18 years. This was for restenosis in three-quarters of the cases. The aortic valve was replaced in 30 patients, at a mean of 9 years, and with a range from 9 months to 18 years, after the first procedure. The survival without replacement at 20 years was 29% (70% CL: 15-49). No factor was identified with a relationship either to reoperation or valvar replacement. Long term results after aortic valvotomy, therefore, show a high late mortality, frequent reinterventions, and an almost inescapable eventual need for valvar replacement. The ongoing use of the Ross operation is justified, even if longterm studies in children are still needed to validate its use.

Aortic Valve↗

Role of limited posterior thoracotomy for open-heart surgery in the current era.

BACKGROUND: The earliest open-heart operations were performed employing the thoracotomy approach. Over the years, median sternotomy has become the routine way of approaching the heart. However, lately there has been progressive enthusiasm in minimally invasive techniques for accessing the heart. We present our technique of correction of congenital heart defects employing the limited posterior thoracotomy approach. METHODS: From June 1997 to April 1998, 27 patients underwent correction for various intracardiac defects without any mortality. There were 19 ostium secundum defects, with or without other associated anomalies. There were six sinus venosus defects with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections. Two patients had perimembranous ventricular septal defects, while 2 patients had partial atrioventricular defects. In 2 other patients, pulmonary stenosis was repaired, using pulmonary valvotomy in 1 patient, whereas the other patient required short transannular patch. RESULTS: The median age was 7 years and the median weight was 20 kg. The median skin-to-skin time was 260 minutes. The median bypass time was 63.25 minutes and the median cross-clamp time was 35.0 minutes. All the patients were extubated within 12 hours following surgery and the median ICU stay was 24 hours. Three patients required blood transfusions in the ICU for significant blood loss and the mean chest drainage was 85 cc per 24 hours. None of the patients had phrenic nerve palsies. None of the patients required additional analgesics other than routine ibuprofen or ketorolac tromethamine. Short-term follow-up revealed no functional or physical disability of the thoracic wall and the right arm. All who underwent surgery with this approach were happy with the limited visibility of their scars. CONCLUSIONS: Limited posterior thoracotomy offers a viable alternative for midsternotomy and submammary thoracotomy. It has the advantage of a scar in the back that does not impede the future growth of the breast tissue and the pectoralis major. Our approach does not need any new instruments and hence no contraptions are necessary to perform the operation with this approach. Our results have shown satisfactory short-term results and better cosmesis.

Adolescent↗

Double-outlet right ventricle with non-committed ventricular septal defect.

OBJECTIVE: The term non-committed was used to define hearts in which the VSD was anatomically related to, or was close to, neither great vessel, being separated from both by considerable muscle. We report our experience of the surgical management of this subset, considered being of particular surgical relevance. METHODS: Between January 1987 and December 1997, 23 patients having double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) with non-committed VSD underwent biventricular repair. Nine (39%) had undergone previous palliation. The median age was 20 months and the median weight was 8.5 kg. Two main types of repair were used: intraventricular baffle repair (n = 21) and arterial switch operation with VSD to pulmonary artery baffle (n = 2). At repair, 12 (52%) patients required concomitant VSD enlargement. In two other patients presenting with restrictive inlet VSD associated with tricuspid attachments, crossing the subaortic pathway biventricular repair was abandoned at operation. RESULTS: There were two hospital deaths (9%, 70% CL: 3-19%). Eight patients (35%, 70% CL: 23-48%) underwent nine reoperations, six for subaortic stenosis. No late death occurred. At last visit, all patients were asymptomatic and only two had cardiac medication. CONCLUSIONS: The biventricular repair of DORV with non-committed VSD is feasible in the vast majority of cases with comparable results to other subsets of DORV. After repair, the subaortic region is at risk for development of subaortic stenosis.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Vascular endothelium viability and function after total cardiopulmonary bypass in neonatal piglets.

Endothelium dysfunction with severe pulmonary hypertension may occur after total cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants as a result of a widespread inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to separate out the effects of lung ischemia-reperfusion from membrane oxygenator-induced activation of leukocytes on the function and viability of the pulmonary and systemic endothelia in neonatal piglets submitted to 90-min total CPB followed by 60-min reperfusion or in sham animals. Hemodynamics, gas exchange, endothelial-dependent relaxation in pulmonary and femoral arteries, and lung and skeletal muscle myeloperoxidase activity were assessed before, during, and after CPB, i.e., after reperfusion. Pulmonary and aortic endothelial cells and circulating leukocytes were harvested to assess reperfusion-induced changes in endothelial cells' viability and proliferation, and leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and cytotoxicity. Gas exchange worsened after reperfusion with pulmonary hypertension, increase in lung but not skeletal myeloperoxidase, and reduction of endothelial-dependent relaxation in pulmonary but not femoral arteries. After reperfusion, viabilities of pulmonary and aortic endothelial cells were reduced to 50%, endothelial cell growths were faster in pulmonary arteries than aorta, and leukocyte-pulmonary endothelial cell adhesion and cytotoxicity increased. These results suggest that in total CPB lung ischemia-reperfusion aggravates the inflammatory response and predisposes the lung endothelium to leukocyte-mediated injury.

Animals↗

Prevention of unbalanced lung perfusion and atrial arrhythmias after the lateral tunnel operation.

BACKGROUND: The lateral tunnel operation has become increasingly popular with pediatric cardiac surgeons, as it is technically reproducible, is relatively easy to perform, and can be used in a variety of patients with single-ventricle physiology. The main drawbacks of the original operation are uneven blood flow distribution to the lungs and increasing incidence of supraventricular arrhythmias over time. METHODS: In 1988, we modified this technique by avoiding narrowing of the tunnel at the superior vena cava-atrial junction, avoiding incorporation of the crista terminalis in the baffle suture line, and minimizing damage to the sinoatrial node. Between 1988 and 1995, 19 patients underwent this operation at Marie-Lannelongue Hospital in Paris. RESULTS: There was one early death and no late deaths. At a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, all survivors are in New York Heart Association class I. Early atrial flutter, related to atrial scarring secondary to multiple previous surgical procedures, developed in 1 patient, and late atrial flutter developed in 1 patient who had a previous Blalock-Hanlon atrial septectomy. All patients are currently in sinus rhythm. Atrial flutter did not occur in 17 patients who had had no previous atrial wall surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the good long-term clinical results are directly attributable to our modifications, which ensure optimal hemodynamics and absence of rhythm disturbances. All patients who had not previously undergone operation on the atrial wall were free from supraventricular tachyarrhythmias at a mean follow-up of 5.2 years. This is a consequence of protecting the sinus node, crista terminalis, and Bachmann's bundle.

Atrial Flutter↗

Midterm results after surgical repair of the anomalous origin of the coronary artery.

BACKGROUND: Immediate results after surgical repair of the anomalous origin of the coronary artery are well known, but few studies reported midterm results in a relatively large population. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 1980 and 1995, 39 consecutive patients with anomalous origin of the coronaries artery from the pulmonary artery had restoration of a two-coronary-artery system. Median age at surgery was 18.5 months (range, 2.7 months to 38 years). Left ventricular (LV) function was normal in 13 patients. Direct aortic implantation was performed in 34 patients (87%), associated with mitral valvuloplasty in 3 patients. Hospital death occurred in 5 patients (13%; 70% confidence limits [CL], 8 to 20). Two patients were lost to follow-up. Mean follow-up was 40 +/- 42 months. There was no late death after 1 month, and the survival rate was 84% (70% CL, 67 to 93). One patient had a mitral valvuloplasty 18 months after reimplantation. At the last follow-up, LV shortening fraction (SF) was normal in 86% (70% CL, 61 to 96), but LV dilation persisted in 73% of patients, and 12 of the survivors (39%) had abnormal regional wall motion of the left ventricle. A perfusion defect with incomplete redistribution was observed in 8 patients on thallium-201 imaging performed in 45% of survivors. Total mortality was related only to the preoperative SF: 12% versus 24.8% (P < .05). No factor was related to SF recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite no late deaths and SF recovery, LV dilation and ischemic segments of the left ventricle persisted at the long-term follow-up.

Adolescent↗

Surgical approaches for double-outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries associated with straddling atrioventricular valves.

The surgical management of patients with double-outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries and straddling atrioventricular valves remains a subject of controversy. Biventricular repair has theoretic advantages because it establishes normal anatomy and physiology. In some instances, however, it seems to carry too high operative risk, and a univentricular heart repair is preferred. Since 1984, we have operated on 34 patients with double-outlet right ventricle (n = 15) or transposition of the great arteries (n = 19) with isolated straddling tricuspid valve (n = 17), isolated straddling mitral valve (n = 9), both mitral and tricuspid straddling (n = 2), or abnormal insertion of tricuspid (n = 7) or mitral (n = 2) chordae in the left ventricular outlet, precluding an adequate tunnel construction. Straddling was categorized according to the location of the papillary muscle insertion in the opposite ventricular chamber: type A, on the edge of the ventricular septal defect (n = 14); type B, on the opposite side of the ventricular septum away from the edge of the defect (n = 8); type C, on the free wall of the opposite ventricular chamber (n = 8). Abnormal chordal insertions were classified according to the location of their attachments around the edges of the defect. Three types of chordal distribution were identified: on the aortic conus, on the pulmonary conus crossing the ventricular septal defect, or around the defect closing it like a curtain. All but three patients had two ventricles of adequate size. Sixteen patients underwent palliation. Median age at the definitive operation was 6.5 months (range 1 to 130 months). Thirty patients underwent a biventricular repair and four had a univentricular repair. Biventricular repair was achieved by an arterial switch operation in 18 patients and by tunnel construction from the left ventricle to the aorta in 12. In isolated straddling of types A and B, the ventricular septal defect was closed by adjusting the septal patch on the ventricular side above the straddled papillary muscle. In type C, the patch was sewn over the papillary muscle by applying it on the septum. In double straddling, the ventricular septum was incised between the two papillary muscles, and an ellipsoid patch was used to reconstruct the septal defect, directing each subvalvular apparatus into its own ventricular chamber. When the abnormal chordae in the left outflow tract inserted on the aortic or pulmonary conus, the conus was incised and tailored to make a flap, leaving an unobstructed left ventricular outflow tract. In two patients the subvalvular apparatus was resected and reattached to the patch. Curtainlike chordae were a contraindication to biventricular repair in double-outlet right ventricle but not in transposition. There were four early deaths and one late death, all occurring in the group having biventricular repair. Death was due to myocardial ischemia (n = 1), right ventricular hypoplasia (n = 1), pulmonary hypertension (n = 1), and residual subaortic stenosis (n = 1). Two patients had moderate to severe postoperative atrioventricular valve incompetence, caused by a cleft in the mitral valve in one patient. Three patients were reoperated on for subaortic stenosis (n = 1), pulmonary stenosis (n = 1), and mitral regurgitation (n = 1). Mean follow-up of 30.7 +/- 19.4 months was achieved in the survivors. All but one patient (univentricular repair) were in New York Heart Association class I, without atrioventricular valve incompetence. Actuarial survival at 4 years was 85.3% +/- 3%. We conclude that straddling or abnormal distribution of chordae tendineae of the atrioventricular valves does not preclude biventricular repair in double-outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries provided that the ventricles are of adequate size. Curtainlike abnormal tricuspid chordae remain a contraindication to biventricular repair in double-outlet right ventricle.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Interleukin-10 release related to cardiopulmonary bypass in infants undergoing cardiac operations.

To evaluate cytokine balance related to cardiopulmonary bypass, we prospectively investigated 11 infants undergoing cardiac operations for congenital heart disease. Proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8) and the antiinflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 were measured at multiple time points before, during, and after bypass. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 values were within normal range before the operation. These values increased significantly during bypass, reaching their peaks after protamine administration (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, 133.6 +/- 124.9 pg/ml; mean +/- standard deviation; p<0.005) and 2 hours after termination of the procedure (interleukin-8, 92.1 +/- 44.1 pg/ml; p < 0.01). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 equaled normal prebypass values from the first postoperative day on. Interleukin-10 levels were within normal range before the operation and were already significantly increased 10 minutes after initiation of bypass (interleukin 10, 39.4 +/- 34.3 pg/ml; p<0.05). These levels remained elevated throughout the procedure but returned to normal after protamine administration. A second significant release of interleukin-10 occurred from the early postoperative period on, reaching its peak 24 hours after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass (interleukin-10, 351.6 +/- 304.0 pg/ml; p < 0.01). Interleukin-10 values were normal on the second postoperative day in all patients. Interleukin-10 kinetics showed an inverse pattern compared with tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8. This difference suggests an interplay between proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines released during and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Interleukin-10 levels measured 4 and 24 hours after bypass strongly correlated with the degree of hypothermia during bypass (Spearman's correlation coefficient, -0.77 [p < 0.01] and -0.89 [p < 0.0005], respectively); these levels did not correlate with duration of bypass and aortic crossclamping, however. This result suggests that besides immunologically mediated production of interleukin-10, hypothermia itself could modulate interleukin-10 production. In conclusion, this study demonstrates interleukin-10 production, in addition to interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha synthesis, in response to cardiopulmonary bypass in infants. Interleukin-10 could play a protective role by down-regulating proinflammatory cytokine release during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Anesthesia, General↗

Reoperation after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.

Although most children after an arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries have normal development and cardiac function, a few require reoperation. During the last 10 years, 68 of 753 patients who underwent arterial switch operations (9.3%) underwent 75 reoperations. Thirty underwent early reoperation (< 30 days or during the same hospital stay) and 38 underwent late reoperation. Causes for reoperation included pacemaker insertion (n = 5), left diaphragm plication (n = 4), revision for hemostasis (n = 1), mediastinitis (n = 2), superior vena cava thrombosis (n = 9), subvalvular pulmonic stenosis (n = 5), supravalvular pulmonic stenosis (n = 16), residual atrial (n = 2) or ventricular (n = 8) septal defects, isolated mitral valve insufficiency (n = 2), aortic valve insufficiency (either isolated [n = 1] or in association with mitral incompetence [n = 1] or stenosis [n = 1]), left coronary artery ostial stenosis (n = 1), and recurrent aortic (n = 6) or neoaortic (n = 4) aortic coarctation. In all but 27 patients, the residual defects were already present immediately after the completion of the arterial switch operation; however, only patients with critical lesions were reoperated on early. Interventional catheterization procedures were performed when indicated; however, they only postponed inevitable reoperation. Successful relief of superior vena cava thrombosis was achieved by atriojugular bypass grafting in two patients, by early open thrombectomy in six patients, and by direct patch angioplasty of the superior vena cava once. Patch plasty for subvalvular or supravalvular pulmonic stenosis was carried out in 21 patients, septal defect closure was carried out in nine patients, and pulmonary artery banding was performed in one patient with criss-cross atrioventricular relationship and multiple ventricular septal defects. Valve repair was performed in all five patients with either isolated or combined aortic and mitral valve dysfunction. One patient with left coronary ostial stenosis underwent a patch enlargement of this ostium. Recoarctation was repaired by end-to-end anastomosis in eight patients and by a subclavian flap and a patch angioplasty in one patient each. Seven patients underwent a second reoperation for supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (n = 3), mitral valve replacement (n = 1), ventricular septal defect closure (n = 1), and recurrent coarctation (n = 2). There were six intraoperative (8.8%) and two late deaths. All early deaths occurred after early reoperations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aortic Coarctation↗

Pulmonary circulation evaluation before cavopulmonary connections: the cavopulmonary bypass.

The outcome of Fontan-type procedures is dependent on several risk factors, among which pulmonary vascular resistances (PVRs) are an important component. Preoperative calculation of PVR entails several potential sources of error, particularly in patients with pulmonary atresia or multiple sources of pulmonary blood flow. In an attempt to develop a reliable test that accurately assesses the hemodynamic patterns of the pulmonary vascular bed before a Fontan procedure, a simulation of Fontan-type circulation was achieved in 13 patients by a partial cardiopulmonary bypass between the main pulmonary artery and both venae cavae (cavopulmonary bypass). During cavopulmonary bypass, pressures and resistances were recorded. Immediately after cavopulmonary bypass, the circulation was converted to standard cardiopulmonary bypass and the cavopulmonary connection was carried out. Preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance indexes were assessed roughly by the arteriovenous oxygen difference in systemic and pulmonary beds. There was no correlation between preoperative and perioperative calculations of pulmonary vascular resistance indexes (r = 0.24; p = not significant). Hemodynamic data available for all patients then were correlated to the early postoperative outcome assessed by a subjective four-point scale. A positive, significant correlation was found with intraoperative PVR (r = 0.90; p < 0.001), indexed PVR (r = 0.90; p < 0.001), and the pulmonary to systemic vascular resistance ratio (r = 0.98; p < 0.0001). Two of 13 patients had a 4-mm fenestration in the atrial baffle. No mortality or morbidity was related to the procedure. The absolute values of PVR and pulmonary vascular resistance indexes were strikingly higher than generally admitted for this type of procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Conventional cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates. A physiological approach--10 years of experience at Marie-Lannelongue Hospital.

There is still controversy about the optimal method of venoarterial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for correction of congenital heart disease in neonates and young infants. High rates of CPB-related morbidity and mortality are still reported. Since 1980, conventional CPB with double caval cannulation with right-angled cannulae has been used in the high majority of neonates at Marie-Lannelongue Hospital. The extracorporeal circuit was miniaturized to be primed with a volume as small as possible. Priming (500 ml) was done with packed red cells and fresh frozen plasma. CPB was conducted at 30% haematocrit and normal ranges of flow rate, arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistances and oxygen delivery. These normal physiological parameters were also maintained during hypothermia. During the last two years, 151 neonates below 15 days old who underwent open-heart surgery were reviewed. The overall hospital mortality was 7.24%. None of the survivors had postoperative complications related to CPB. All physiological and biological values remained within normal ranges during the postoperative course.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗

[Development of a technique for the complete correction of transposition of great vessels].

Complete transposition of the great arteries is one of the most common cardiovascular anomalies. Several surgical methods of treatment have been proposed. Arterial repair theoretically seems a better option since it does not introduce any additional intra cardiac anomaly and it restores the left ventricle to its natival systemic function. The rationale for neonatal arterial repair lies on fetal and neonatal cardiopulmonary physiology. The left ventricle has to eject immediately after surgery a normal cardiac output at systemic pressure in the aorta. This is the case in the neonatal period, because during fetal life pulmonary artery and aortic pressure are equal. For simple TGA, after birth, with the fall in pulmonary vascular resistances and constriction of the ductus arteriosus, pulmonary artery and left ventricular pressures drop dramatically to less than one third (1/3) of systemic pressure. As a result, the left ventricle is not stimulated for growth adaptation and becomes a thin ventricle less contractile and more compliant. However, there is little doubt that during the first 2 to 4 post-natal weeks, the left ventricle is still suitable to sustain a systemic workload. Between april 1984 and april 1992, four hundred and twenty six (426) consecutive neonates underwent an arterial switch operation for various forms of transposition: with 34 hospital deaths. The mean age at operation was 13 days and the mean weight was 3.2 kg. Among patients with TGA-VSD and coarctation, 14 underwent a single stage repair through mid sternotomy. Actuarial survival rates were: 89% for TGA-IVS at 5 years, 90% for TGA-VSD, 85.3% for TGA-VSD and coarctation at 3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Methods↗

Aortic atresia with normal left ventricle.

A case of single-stage repair of aortic atresia with normal-sized left ventricle and ventricular septal defect in a neonate is reported. The surgical procedure included rerouting of the left ventricular bloodstream to the pulmonary artery through the ventricular septal defect and connection of the pulmonary trunk to the aortic arch. The right ventricular outflow tract was then reconstructed with an extracardiac valved conduit. Three years after the initial operation, replacement of the valved conduit was performed uneventfully. The clinical status of the child is very satisfactory.

Aorta↗

Anatomic repair of Taussig-Bing hearts.

From 1978 through 1990, 27 consecutive patients underwent anatomic repair of Taussig-Bing heart (TBH) malformation. Group 1 (seven patients) underwent intraventricular repair by rerouting of the left ventricular blood stream through a tunnel patch from the ventricular septal defect (VSD) to the aorta. Group 2 (20 patients) underwent an arterial switch with VSD closure. Indications for each type of repair were based on the following criteria: when the great vessel relation is more or less anteroposterior, repair is performed at the arterial level; when side by side, the minimal tricuspid pulmonary valve distance is evaluated; if less than aortic valve diameter or if there are abnormal tricuspid chordae, repair is performed at the arterial level; if greater, pulmonary artery banding is performed in order to wait until suitable weight for intraventricular repair. The mean age at operation was 13.2 months. Coarctation of the aorta was present in 12 patients, abnormal tricuspid chords in eight, and subaortic stenosis in seven. The great vessels were in D-transposition in 12 patients, and they were side by side in 15. Seventeen patients underwent previous palliative surgery. Early (two patients, 7.4%) and late (two patients, 8%) mortality rates were related in group 1 to subaortic stenosis and in group 2 to myocardial infarction. Mean follow-up of 40 +/- 24 months was achieved in 22 survivors. They were all in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, without medication. Actuarial survival and freedom from reoperation rates were, respectively, at 5 years 73 +/- 14.6% and 58 +/- 13% (70% confidence limits [CL]).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗

Obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Toward neutralization of a major risk factor.

Among 57 neonates undergoing repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return with severe pulmonary venous obstruction from 1980 through 1989, date of operation (1980 to 1984), preoperative hemodynamic instability, and failure to monitor pulmonary artery pressure postoperatively were risk factors for death. Thus, among the 30 patients having repair between 1985 and 1989, the 55-month survival rate including hospital deaths was 83%.

Blood Pressure↗

Anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect. Experience with 118 cases.

One hundred eighteen patients, 100 with transposition of the great arteries plus ventricular septal defect and 18 with double-outlet right ventricle and subpulmonary ventricular septal defect have undergone arterial switch and patch closure of the ventricular septal defect since February 1983. In transposition of the great arteries the ventricular septal defect was perimembranous in 70 cases, trabecular in 28, and infundibular in 10. Eleven patients had multiple ventricular septal defects. In addition to 18 patients with double-outlet right ventricle, malalignment of the conal septum was present in 19 cases. Coronary type A distribution was recognized in 79 cases, type C in one, type D in 24, and type E in 14. Great arteries were side by side in 19% of cases. Aortic coarctation was present in 31 cases, and subaortic obstruction in 9. Age at operation ranged from 4 days to 4 years (mean, 3.5 +/- 8.3 months), and mean weight was 4.0 +/- 1.6 kg. Thirty-seven infants were younger than age 1 month. Thirty-six patients underwent previous operations: pulmonary artery banding alone (n = 13), pulmonary artery banding and coarctation repair (n = 13), and coarctation repair alone (n = 10). Mean time between the first procedure and the switch was 2.2 months. Six patients with aortic coarctation underwent one-stage repair, through median sternotomy, aortic reconstruction, closure of the ventricular septal defect, and arterial switch. Perioperative mortality was 13.5% (70% confidence limit 10% to 17.6%, n = 16). It was directly related to coronary artery kinking in 50% of deaths and to anatomy and size discrepancy of the great arteries in the remaining deaths. Univariate analysis could not find any significant risk factor of in-hospital mortality. Mean follow-up of 30.3 +/- 23.5 months was achieved in all but 2 survivors. There was one late death. Ten patients underwent 11 reoperations for recoarctation (n = 1), pulmonary stenosis (n = 7), residual ventricular septal defect (n = 2), and stenosis of superior vena cava (n = 1). Two patients needed a permanent pacemaker. Actuarial survival and freedom from reoperation at 5 years were 84.5% +/- 3.6% and 85.7% +/- 4.6%, respectively. We conclude that anatomic correction of complex transposition is a safe method that offers good early and midterm results.

Child, Preschool↗