Total right ventricular exclusion procedure: an operation for isolated congestive right ventricular failure

OBJECTIVE: To prevent possible deleterious effects of right ventricular volume overload on cardiorespiratory function, we developed a total right ventricular exclusion procedure for the treatment of end-stage isolated congestive right ventricular failure. METHODS: Since 1996, this procedure has been performed in 5 patients in New York Heart Association functional class IV: 2 adults with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and 3 children with Ebstein anomaly. The entire right ventricular free wall was resected along the atrioventricular groove and then parallel to the interventricular septum, sparing the pulmonary valve and a skeletonized right coronary artery. The orifice of the tricuspid valve was closed with either a polytetrafluoroethylene patch or with its leaflets. The defect of the right ventricular free wall was covered with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch in the 2 patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and directly closed with the remnant of the free wall in the 3 children with Ebstein anomaly. After resection of a redundant right atrial wall, coronary sinus blood flow was rerouted into the left atrium through an atrial septal defect. A total cavopulmonary connection was constructed in 4 patients and a bidirectional superior cavopulmonary anastomosis in 1 infant. The heart was controlled with a DDD pacemaker in 3 patients. RESULTS: The patients were extubated at a mean of 14 hours postoperatively (range, 1-38 hours). There were no early or late deaths. At follow-up, ranging from 8 to 57 months, the mean cardiothoracic ratio had decreased from 74% +/- 7% before the operation to 52% +/- 6% (P <.01). All patients are in functional class I. Neither of the patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia have had attacks of ventricular tachycardia nor are they using antiarrhythmic medication. CONCLUSIONS: The total right ventricular exclusion procedure provides effective decompression of the lung, as well as the left ventricle, and may result in more effective volume loading of a surgically created single ventricle with increased systemic output. We believe that this new surgical option offers rescue treatment for isolated end-stage right ventricular failure in critically ill patients.