Simplified single patch technique for the repair of atrioventricular septal defect.

OBJECTIVE: Because of the complexity of traditional 1- and 2-patch techniques for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect, we modified our repair technique to avoid the use of any ventricular septal patch material. We report our prospective experience with this simplified 1-patch technique. METHOD: Forty-seven consecutive patients between May 1995 and August 1998 underwent repair with the use of this technique without modification. Repair was done in all patients by direct suturing of the common atrioventricular valve leaflets to the crest of the ventricular septum. No division of valve leaflets was necessary. A single pericardial patch was used to close the defect in the atrial septal component. Follow-up included electrocardiography and echocardiographic assessment of ventricular function, atrioventricular valve function, and adequacy of the left ventricular outflow tract. RESULTS: There were 2 deaths (4%), only 1 cardiac related, in the series. There were 17 male patients and 30 female patients. Mean age at repair was 5.6 months (median, 3.4 months). Associated lesions were repaired in 19 patients (40%). Mean follow-up was 1.85 years (median, 1.9 years). There was no heart block. There were no significant residual ventricular septal defects detected and no left ventricular outflow tract obstruction seen on echocardiography in any patient to date. Mitral valve status after operation was assessed as no incompetence in 13 patients (28%), minimal in 19 patients (40%), mild in 12 patients (26%), and moderate in 3 patients (6%). CONCLUSION: The repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect by direct suturing of the atrioventricular valve leaflets to the crest of the ventricular septum with a single-patch technique greatly simplifies the repair and does not lead to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction nor interfere with valve function.     

The simplified single patch repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect

Between May 1995 and November 2003, 88 consecutive patients referred to 2 consultant cardiac surgeons (GN and IN) for repair of complete AVSD had this technique used. The mean age at operation was 8.3 months (median 3.3 months, range 1 to 40 months). The mean weight at operation was 5.7 kg (range 2.3 to 16.8). Down syndrome was present in 63 patients (71.6%).The size of the ventricular septal defect was graded on preoperative echocardiography by cardiology review as restrictive (14 patients), moderate (21 patients), or large (47 patients). All patients had the described technique performed with no modifications, regardless of the size of the ventricular component.Nine patients had associated tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonary atresia anatomy. These patients were all initially treated with modified Blalock Taussig GoreTex shunts. Later repair of tetralogy (2 patients) or construction of RV-PA conduit (7 patients) at the time of AVSD repair was performed.Four patients had pulmonary artery banding due to small size and later had debanding and complete AVSD repair.There were 3 early deaths (3.4%). All 3 had other associated surgery at the time of AVSD repair (1 tetralogy repair, 1 RV-PA conduit for pulmonary atresia, and one aortic and pulmonary valvotomy for aortic stenosis and pulmonary stenosis).Of the survivors, post procedure echocardiography revealed mild or less mitral regurgitation in 73 patients (86%), moderate regurgitation in 7 (8%), and severe in 1 patient. Follow-up was performed on 78 of the 85 survivors at a median of 30 months (mean 36 months, range 0 to 97 months). Two patients required mitral valve replacement (2.5%). One of these patients had severe and one moderate mitral regurgitation recorded at initial post AVSD repair echocardiography. Of the remaining patients, 73 had mild or less mitral regurgitation (93.5%) and 3 had moderate regurgitation (4%).In general, this technique has lead to reduced cross clamp times and overall bypass time in our hands. It effectively eliminates an extra suture line used in other techniques. We have had good mitral valve function postoperatively and have not seen significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction despite our initial theoretical concerns. We have applied this simplified technique to all of our AVSD patients regardless of size of ventricular defect.     

Complete repair of atrioventricular septal defect

We report our experience with 103 consecutive children who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect between 1971 and 1990. Ninety-one patients were less than 18 months old (mean age, 6.2 months; mean weight, 5.8 kg) and were repaired using deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. There were 15 perioperative deaths. Twelve patients were older (mean age, 40.2 months; mean weight, 18.9 kg) and were repaired using moderate hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass. There were two perioperative deaths. Repairs were performed with the single-patch technique. Four younger patients required repeat repair to control residual mitral regurgitation. Two of the older children required late reoperation to replace one or both atrioventricular valves. Three younger children underwent pulmonary artery banding initially; 1 died after complete repair. Three older children underwent initial pulmonary artery banding; 2 died at definitive repair, and the survivor required pulmonary artery reconstruction, which was repeated subsequently. Since 1977 our policy has been to perform primary definitive repair whenever possible. Two patients died late from unrelated causes. At the most recent follow-up the majority of patients had no or minimal symptoms. We continue to advocate primary definitive repair whenever possible using the single-patch technique in symptomatic patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect.     

Simplified technique for patch augmentation and chorda reconstruction of left atrioventricular valve in complete atrioventricular septal defect

Management of the left AV valve is the most crucial component of the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect (cAVSD). A scarcity or deficiency of leaflet tissue may compromise satisfactory repair in a small number of patients with cAVSD, especially in patients with a normal karyotype. We describe the case of a 44-day-old baby who had cAVSD with severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation due to dysplastic bridging leaflets. The repair was successfully performed by augmenting leaflet tissue and reconstructing the chorda using single patch. This technique could be one of the options in the repair of valves in order to avoid valve replacement in a small infant, although material of patch and reoperation need to be considered.     

Two-patch repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect using a small ventricular patch

Since 1992, 19 patients with an atrioventricular septal defect have undergone surgical treatment using a novel annuloplasty technique in which a small ventricular patch was used to reduce the anterior-posterior dimension of the atrioventricular orifice. All patients recovered uneventfully and needed no reoperation for the residual regurgitation or shunt. The results showed that the new annuloplasty technique was promising, although a long-term result is yet to be seen.     

完全性房室间隔缺损的外科治疗

目的回顾性总结手术治疗完全性房室间隔缺损的经验。方法112例病儿,≤6个月43例(38%,X组),>6个月69例(62%,Y组)。85例行心导管检查。Rastelli A型89例,Rastelli B型10例,Ras- telli C型13例。手术技术分单片法,双片法和简化单片法。术中经食管超声检查发现异常而即刻再次手术者7例(二尖瓣反流4例,二尖瓣狭窄2例,左室流出道梗阻1例)。术后入重症监护室,左房压8～21 mm Hg,中心静脉压7～12mm Hg。呼吸机平均应用47h,监护室平均滞留6.3d。结果室间隔缺损残余分流(直径>2mm)13例,二尖瓣中度反流12例,完全性房室传导阻滞4例。院内死亡6例(X组1例,Y组5例)。术后随访91例(81%),随访1～5年,平均2.3年。1例术后1年因肺炎心衰死亡,1例术后2年因二尖瓣中-重度反流而换瓣。结论院内死亡率提示,小于6月龄完全性房室间隔缺损病婴手术是安全的。随着年龄增大,瓣膜成形效果、肺动脉高压的预后可能会更差。双片法修补室间隔缺损较易发生残余漏(9例,18%),简化单片法出院时二尖瓣关闭不全发生率明显高于另外两种方法(6例,16%)。     

Single-stage repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect

We report our experience with 31 consecutive children who underwent single-stage repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect between 1984 and December 1991. Ages ranged from 2 months to 2.5 years, mean 11 months. 18 were classified Rastelli type A, 13 type C. 22 patients had Down's syndrome, 12 were Rastelli type C. 1 patch was used in Rastelli type A cases and 2 patches in type C patients, without incision of the atrioventricular valve tissue. In all but 1 case the left superior and inferior valve leaflets were approximated. 5 patients died postoperatively resulting in an overall mortality of 16.1%. In all survivors, good clinical results and sinus rhythm were seen, although all show some degree of mitral incompetence.     

Results with the two-patch technique for repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect

From May, 1982, to September, 1983, 9 patients underwent repair of complete AV septal defect. They ranged in age from 11 months to 48 months and in weight from 5.3 kg to 16.5 kg. Seven patients were 24 months old or less. Previous operations included pulmonary artery banding in 1 patient and ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus with repair of coarctation in another. All patients had large left-to-right shunts (mean pulmonary to systemic flow ratio, 3.1), and the 7 young infants had marked pulmonary hypertension. Mitral regurgitation was absent in 2 patients, mild in 3, moderate in 2, and severe in 2. One patient had the right ventricular dominant form of complete AV septal defect. In all instances, repair was done using separate ventricular and atrial patches. Leaflet tissue was not divided, and a trileaflet mitral valve was left in each patient. Eight patients survived operation and are well 3 to 17 months after repair. The single operative death occurred in the patient with right ventricular dominance. Only 1 patient has mild residual heart failure 4 months after operation. Clinically, mitral regurgitation is absent in 4 patients and, at most, mild in the other 4. No patient has a conduction disturbance. Repair of complete AV septal defect is facilitated by using separate patches for the ventricular and atrial components of the defect. Less distortion is created, and a more accurate reconstruction of a competent trileaflet mitral valve can be done.     

Surgical repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the outcome of complete atrioventricular septal defect repair from 1981 to 2000. METHODS: One hundred seventy-two consecutive patients with atrioventricular septal defect were operated on by a single surgeon using a consistent operative technique (single patch; "cleft" closure). The patients' age range was from 5 weeks to 9 years (mean, 10.8 +/- 1.2 months). RESULTS: Overall operative mortality was 15 of 172 (8.7%) and this decreased significantly from 12 of 73 (16.4%) in the first decade to 3 of 99 (3.0%) in the second decade (p = 0.0021) with no operative deaths in the last 51 patients. Operative mortality was related to decade of operation (p = 0.0021) and to use of crystalloid cardioplegia (p = 0.0047) by univariate analysis, and to decade of operation (p = 0.0016) and postoperative time on ventilator (p = 0.0023) by multivariate analysis. Actuarial long-term survival including operative deaths was 79.0% +/- 3.8% at 15 years. Ten of 157 (6.4%) operative survivors have undergone reoperation for late mitral regurgitation (9 mitral valve repair, 1 mitral valve replacement) with one death. Four of 8 patients surviving late mitral valve replacement have subsequently required mitral valve repair. Freedom from late reoperation for severe mitral regurgitation was 89.9% +/- 3.1% at 15 years. Freedom from late reoperation for mitral regurgitation did not decrease in the second decade (84.2% +/- 6.6% at 10 years) versus the first decade (94.5% +/- 3.1%) (p = 0.0679). CONCLUSIONS: Although operative mortality for repair of atrioventricular septal defect has decreased dramatically during the past decade, the incidence of late reoperation for mitral regurgitation has not improved, and better techniques to eliminate late mitral regurgitation are needed.     

Prosthetic mitral valve replacement after atrioventricular septal defect repair: a technique for small children

An 11-month-old girl was transferred for consideration of cardiac transplantation. She had previously undergone repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect at another institution. Her postoperative course was notable for severe mitral regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure. At reoperation, the left atrioventricular valve was considered irreparable with a very small (11 mm) annulus. Using a technique to enlarge the mitral annulus, a 17-mm prosthetic valve was placed. Her postoperative course was unremarkable and she is doing very well at 3 years follow-up.     

Left atrioventricular valve regurgitation after repair of incomplete atrioventricular septal defect

BACKGROUND: Excellent surgical results have been reported for repair of incomplete atrioventricular septal defect; however, left atrioventricular valve regurgitation (ltAVVR) is a major cause of late morbidity. We reviewed our entire experience with incomplete atrioventricular septal defect in order to investigate long-term results of ltAVVR after repair and determine the factors influencing the progression of ltAVVR in late follow-up. METHODS: Between 1983 and 2002, 61 patients underwent surgical repair of incomplete atrioventricular septal defect, including 7 patients with intermediate forms. The age of operation ranged from 1 month to 62 years old (median 5.3 years old). Thirteen patients were less than 2 years old, including 7 infants, while there were 15 adult patients. All patients underwent patch closure of the ostium primum defect. Before 1995, the cleft was left open in 7 patients and partial closure of the cleft was done in 41 patients, whereas complete closure of the cleft was performed in 9 patients since 1996. Preoperative and postoperative ltAVVR at hospital discharge and late follow-up were graded 0-IV by echographic evaluation. RESULTS: There was 1 early death and 4 late deaths with a 91% 10-year actuarial survival rate. Preoperative ltAVVR grade was I in 25 patients, II in 31 patients, III in 4 patients, and IV in 1 patient. Postoperatively, ltAVVR deteriorated in 3 patients. Left AVVR decreased in 21 patients, whereas in 37 patients it remained the same at hospital discharge. Consequently, ltAVVR remained grade II in 18 patients, grade III in 2, and there was no patient with grade IV. During the long-term follow-up, 24 patients were noted to have increased ltAVVR, including grade III in 8 patients and grade IV in 4. Reoperations for ltAVVR were required in 5 patients (8.3% of hospital survivors); valve replacement in 3 patients and valve repair in 2. Actuarial freedom from reoperation for ltAVVR was 91% at 10 years, whereas actuarial freedom from postoperative ltAVVR grade III or more was 89% at 5 years and 78% at 10 years. Multivariate analysis indicated that postoperative ltAVVR grade II or more at hospital discharge (p = 0.0032, odds ratio = 7.41, 95%CI: 1.95-28.10) was the only independent variable related to late ltAVVR, whereas age at operation, preoperative grade of ltAVVR, and the method of cleft repair were not significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Left AVVR is still a significant risk in long-term follow-up. Because the postoperative grade of ltAVVR is the only independent risk factor for late ltAVVR, more efforts should be focused on left atrioventricular valve repair so as to minimize residual regurgitation, even mild regurgitation.     

Left atrioventricular valve repair technique in partial atrioventricular septal defects

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of chordal transfer around the cleft on left atrioventricular valve competence in the late postoperative period. METHODS: Forty-four adult patients underwent surgical correction of partial atrioventricular septal defect between 1983 and 1997. Fenestration was found in 8 patients (18.2%) and cleft, in 35 (79.5%). There was no chordal support of the free edges of the left superior and left inferior leaflets around the cleft in 18 patients. Two chordae were mobilized from the left lateral leaflet and reimplanted into the tip of the left superior and left inferior leaflets around the cleft. RESULTS: At 5 years postoperatively, left atrioventricular valve insufficiency was severe in 5 patients and moderate in 11 patients who had had cleft closure alone. In contrast, severe valvular insufficiency was present in only 1 patient in the group with chordal transfer (p < 0.05). Reoperation was done in 5 patients with isolated cleft closure. Left AV valve replacement was performed in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Chordal transfer plus cleft closure with interrupted sutures significantly reduces early and late left atrioventricular valve incompetence and also decreases the rate of reoperation.     

Correlation of ventricular septal defect height and outcomes after complete atrioventricular septal defect repair

 Open in a separate windowOBJECTIVESThere are limited data available on the height of the ventricular component of the septal deficiency (VSD) in patients undergoing complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) repair. VSD height may influence optimal choice of repair strategy with potential consequences for long-term outcomes. We aimed to measure VSD height using 2-dimensional echocardiography and review its association with postoperative outcomes.METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the preoperative echocardiograms of 45 consecutive patients who underwent CAVSD repair between May 2010 and December 2015 at a single centre. VSD height and left ventricular length on the four-chamber view were measured. Demographic details and early and late outcomes including reoperation and long-term survival were studied.RESULTSTwenty patients underwent modified single-patch repair and 25 patients underwent double-patch repair of CAVSD. VSD height in the modified single-patch group ranged from 4.2 to 11.7 mm and in the double-patch group ranged from 5.1 to 14.9 mm. Nine patients had a deep ‘scoop’ with a VSD height of >10 mm, (7 double patch, 2 modified single patch). VSD height did not correlate with a specific Rastelli classification. There was no significant difference in the VSD height (P = 0.51) or the VSD height-to-left ventricular length ratio (P = 0.43) between the 2 repair groups. There was no 30-day mortality. Eight patients required reoperation; however, VSD height was not a significant predictor of reoperation (hazard ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.69–1.33; P = 0.08).CONCLUSIONSThere was no correlation between VSD height and risk of reoperation after CAVSD repair. A deep ventricular scoop is uncommon in CAVSD patients.     

No patch technique for complete atrioventricular canal repair

We describe our initial experience with a new technique, consisting in direct closure of the ventricular septal defect component of the AV canal, by directly attaching the common bridging leaflets to the crest of the ventricular septum with interrupted sutures. After closure of the cleft, the ostium primum defect was closed with a running suture suturing the border of the septum primum to the newly created AV valve annulus. Three patients were operated upon. There was no mortality. Mean ischemic time was 39 min and mean pump time 77 min. All patients remained in sinus rhythm. At follow-up only trivial or mild mitral regurgitation was observed. This new technique permits the repair of complete AV canal without the need for any patch. It is fast, simple and reproducible.     

Complete atrioventricular septal defect associated with tetralogy of Fallot. Favourable outcome of transatrial transpulmonary repair

BACKGROUND: Complete correction of atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) associated with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has been reported to account for an increased surgical risk. Impaired right ventricular function after classic transventricular repair, residual outflow tract stenosis, and incompetence of the pulmonary or atrioventricular valves are considered to be essential factors affecting the results. METHODS: From 3/95 to 6/98 six consecutive patients with AVSD and TOF underwent repair (age 18 months to 7.3 years) using a combined transatrial-transpulmonary approach. RV outflow tract balloon dilatation preceded transatrial correction in 4 patients. Pulmonary annulotomy but not transanular patching was necessary in 4 cases. The septal defects were closed by two separate patches using a Dacron patch with short depth and anterior extension for the ventricular component. RESULTS: All patients survived and had stable sinus rhythm. Echocardiography demonstrated mild, but hemodynamically insignificant mitral regurgitation in two and tricuspid regurgitation in four patients. Right ventricle to pulmonary artery gradients ranged from 5 to 35 mmHg (mean 24.2 mmHg) without progression. During follow-up ranging from 4 months to 3.5 years (mean 16.8 months) no reoperation was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The transatrial-transpulmonary approach for correction of AVSD with TOF contributes to improved results after repair of this rare combination of defects.     

'Double patch and glue' technique for early repair of posterior post-infarction ventricular septal defect

A surgical procedure that reduces the recurrence of post-infarction posterior ventricular septal defects is described. This technique is based on a double ventriculotomy without an infarctectomy, the use of two patches, and glue, which is applied between the two patches. Excellent results have been obtained in 18 consecutives patients with this simple and reliable technique.     

改良单片法矫治儿童完全型房室间隔缺损单中心应用

目的 总结应用改良单片法(modified single-patch,MSP)矫治儿童完全型房室间隔缺损(complete atrioventricular septal defect,CAVSD)的相关经验.方法 回顾性分析2009年6月至2017年12月间在我中心采用MSP技术行CAVSD双心室矫治术141例患儿的...