Complete atrioventricular septal defect repair: Simplified single patch technique

Background: There has been a rekindling of interest in alternatives to conventional two patch technique for the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect in infancy in the recent past. We applied the simplified single patch technique to 15 consecutive infants and herein report our intermediate term results. Methods: Between March 1998 and September 2001, fifteen patients underwent repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with this technique (mean age 6 months, mean weight 5.4 kg). Downs syndrome was present in 11 patients. Repair was done in all patients by direct suturing of the common atrioventricular valve leaflets to the crest of the ventricular septum irrespective of the size of the ventricular septal component. The cleft in the anterior mitral leaflet was closed in all patients. The atrial septal component was closed by a pericardial patch. Results: There was no mortality. There were no pulmonary arterial hypertensive crises or heart block. The mean follow up was 13.2 months. One patient underwent mitral valve replacement after one year due to severe mitral regurgitation. The remaining fourteen patients had no significant mitral regurgitation, residual ventricular septal defect or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction on echocardiography. Conclusion: Simplified single patch technique is an easily reproducible method for surgical repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect. It is less time consuming and minimises ischaemic time. Atrioventricular valve function is preserved and there is no incidence of obstruction to left ventricular outflow tract. The intermediate term results are encouraging. Presented in the poster session of the 37^th Annual Meeting of Association for European Paediatric Cardiology (AEPC) at Porto, Portugal, May 2002     

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.     

Bridging annuloplasty for left atrioventricular valve of partial atrioventricular septal defect

Residual left atrioventricular valve regurgitation after conventional repair technique for partial atrioventricular septal defect most commonly occurs in the central position. We describe here the technique for bridging annuloplasty on the opposing anterior and posterior annuli of the atrioventricular valve in selected patients with short leaflets.     

Three-dimensional echocardiography improves the understanding of left atrioventricular valve morphology and function in atrioventricular septal defects undergoing patch augmentation

OBJECTIVES: We sought to address the role of 3-dimensional echocardiography in the evaluation of the left atrioventricular valve in children with an atrioventricular septal defect who underwent patch augmentation of their valve for either regurgitation or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. METHODS: Five children whose ages ranged between 4.5 and 9.2 years and who underwent patch augmentation of their left atrioventricular valve had a preoperative and postoperative transesophageal echocardiogram with 3-dimensional reconstruction to evaluate the left atrioventricular valve. The indication for operation was left atrioventricular valve regurgitation in 3 patients and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 2 patients. Three were rerepairs, and 2 were primary repairs. Both 3-dimensional morphology and color Doppler data were obtained. Two- and 3-dimensional findings were correlated with surgical observations through the use of direct inspection and video images obtained with a head-mounted super-VHS camera. RESULTS: In each case there was precise correlation between the 3-dimensional and surgical findings as to the cause of leaflet failure in those with regurgitation. The site that would require leaflet augmentation could be determined by means of 3-dimensional echocardiography. Three-dimensional echocardiography provided more specific detail as to the morphology and function of the left atrioventricular valve than did its 2-dimensional counterpart. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional echocardiography provides detailed information about the status of the left atrioventricular valve in the atrioventricular septal defect and can aid in the planning of either primary or secondary repair.     

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.     

Incomplete atrioventricular septal defect with hypoplastic left ventricle and left atrioventricular valve stenosis

A 2-month-old male infant with incomplete atrioventricular septal defect associated with a hypoplastic left ventricle and left atrioventricular valve stenosis successfully underwent biventricular repair. Echocardiography showed marked dilatation in the right ventricle and a diminutive left ventricle. However, the left ventricular chamber occupied the apex. Left atrioventricular valve stenosis was due to a solitary papillary muscle. Cardiac catheterization showed pulmonary/systemic flow ratio of 3.61, left ventricular end-diastolic volume of 63% of normal, and right ventricular end-diastolic volume of 324% of normal. During surgical repair, the solitary papillary muscle was divided longitudinally and the ostium primum was closed with a bovine pericardium. Postoperative left ventricular function was appropriate. Even when the preoperative end-diastolic left ventricular volume is small, if the left ventricle chamber is at the apex, then the left ventricular performance can be expected to be appropriate to tolerate the volume load after ostium primum closure.     

Repair of left atrioventricular valve cleft defects with patch augmentation

Operations for left atrioventricular valve insufficiency after repair of an atrioventricular septal defect can be challenging. Repair techniques largely depend on closure of the residual cleft in the anterior leaflet in conjunction with a posterior annuloplasty. Profound deficiencies in anterior leaflet tissue can make primary cleft closure impractical. A simplified technique, in which cleft closure is supported by triangular-shaped patch material, is presented along with results in 13 patients.     

Post-operative left atrioventricular valve function after the staged repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot

Objective

This study reviewed surgical outcomes of staged repair for complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot, especially with focusing on the post-operative left-sided atrioventricular valve function.

Methods

Between 1992 and 2013, 10 patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot underwent total correction by the following surgical strategy. Systemic-to-pulmonary shunt was placed at first at the mean age of 1.5 ± 1.3 months. Then confirming sufficient development of the left heart structures, the total correction was performed at the mean age of 1.4 ± 0.6 years. Second shunt was required in 4 (40 %) patients to develop the left heart structures.

Results

The left ventricular end-diastolic volume before total correction was 127 ± 30 % of normal size. The two-patch repair was applied in 8 (80 %) patients. There was no mortality, and 1 reoperation case for left-sided atrioventricular valve regurgitation. The follow-up was completed on all patients and the mean follow-up period was 7.4 ± 7.0 years. The post-operative left-sided atrioventricular valve regurgitation kept less than moderate for 10-year follow-up in all patients except one patient who required the repair of left-sided atrioventricular valve 1 year after the total correction.

Conclusions

The post-operative left-sided atrioventricular valve function after the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot maintained with the application of the two-patch repair, early and repeated palliative systemic-to-pulmonary shunt, and the early definitive surgery.     

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.     

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.     

Double-orifice repair for left atrioventricular valve regurgitation in atrioventricular septal defect: report of two cases

We describe two patients who successfully underwent a surgically created double-orifice repair using the edge-to-edge repair for residual left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) regurgitation in an atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD). Both patients had previously received patch closure of the AVSD and partial closure of a cleft of the LAVV. Preoperatively, echocardiography showed a wide open cleft and remarkable dilatation of the LAVV annulus. Doppler study revealed severe regurgitation through the cleft and the central portion of the LAVV orifice and no intracardiac shunt. Postoperative echocardiography showed a remarkable decrease of the AV valve regurgitation to none or trivial levels without stenosis of the LAVV in both patients. Among several valve-sparing techniques, our experience suggests that the surgically created double-orifice repair is one of the most effective reparative procedures for LAVV regurgitation in AVSD.     

A modified 'single patch' technique for complete atrioventricular septal defect correction.

We propose a modified single-patch technique consisting in plication of the patch on the left side, which then is sutured with the free edge of the left atrioventricular valve. The proposed technique offers all the advantages of the single-patch technique and at the same time provides additional tissue for reconstructing appropriately the left atrioventricular valve in cases with leaflet tissue deficiency such as severely dysplastic valve, double orifice left atrioventricular valve. This modification augments the left atrioventricular valve tissue appropriately to the orifice size, promotes leftward displacement and improved coaptation with the mural leaflet.     

Management of the left atrioventricular valve in the repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects.

Left atrioventricular valve regurgitation in atrioventricular canal defects is usually due to malalignment of the edges of the cleft or to annular dilatation. Intraoperative assessment and correction of left atrioventricular valve incompetence is critical for successful outcome in the surgical management of complete atrioventricular canal defects. Although some have elected not to suture the cleft in the setting of minimal incompetence, we have found that this often results in significant left atrioventricular valve insufficiency, necessitating reoperation. From January 1982 through December 1990, 105 patients with complete atrioventricular canal underwent definitive repair. Repair was performed with a single pericardial patch technique in 86 patients (82%). Intraoperative assessment of left atrioventricular valve competence was performed in all cases. Ninety-six patients (91%) required suturing of the cleft and 63 (60%) required annuloplasty to establish satisfactory competence of the left atrioventricular valve. The overall early mortality rate was 10.5% (11/105 patients). From 1986 to 1990, the early mortality rate decreased to 7.7% (6/78 patients). In a mean follow-up of 39 months (range 1 to 106 months), late survival was 96% (90/94 operative or early survivors). Reoperation was performed on eleven (11.5%) patients; six (6.3%) for failure of the atrioventricular valve repair, three for patch dehiscence, and two for residual ventricular septal defects. These data demonstrate that routine approximation of the cleft and aggressive use of left atrioventricular valve annuloplasty is safe and results in an excellent outcome with a low incidence of reoperation for failure of left atrioventricular valve repair.     

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%)。     

完全型房室间隔缺损的外科治疗

目的　总结完全型房室间隔缺损外科治疗的经验。方法　16例完全性房室间隔缺损患儿,平均年龄(1.2±0 .9)岁,平均体重(6.8±3 )kg。其中10例伴有Down综合征,1例合并法洛四联征。术前超声心动图显示房室瓣轻度反流12例,中度反流3例,重度反流1例。行单片法修补10例,双片法修补6例。结果　术后恢复顺利,无围手术期死亡。除1例患儿于出院4个月后因肺部感染合并心衰死亡外,余随访0 .3～5 .2年,经超声心动图检查显示房室瓣功能良好,未见明显反流。结论　完全型房室间隔缺损患者早诊断,早手术,可获良好疗效。     

The left atrioventricular valve in partial atrioventricular septal defect: management strategy and surgical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that in patients with a partial atrioventricular septal defect (PAVSD) and a competent left atrioventricular valve (LAVV), sutures should be placed across the line of apposition of the superior and inferior bridging leaflets, septal commissure (SC), to prevent the development of regurgitation. Outcome of surgery and risk factors for the need for LAVV reoperation of patients with mild or no LAVV regurgitation (LAVVR) were evaluated. BACKGROUND: Controversy over management of the LAVV in PAVSD. METHOD: One hundred and forty seven children with PAVSD underwent surgical repair at the Royal Brompton Hospital between January 1983 and December 1999. Of this group, 21 (16.7%) had LAVVR of sufficient severity to require surgical intervention and were therefore excluded from analysis. The median age and weight at repair of those with mild or no LAVVR was 4.1 years and 15.4 kg. One hundred and eight had normal chromosomes, 13 Down syndrome and five other syndromes. The interatrial communication was closed using a pericardial patch in 62.7% and with synthetic material in the remainder. Intraoperative testing of LAVV competence was undertaken using saline injection into the left ventricle. In 80.9%, sutures were placed across the line of apposition of the left sided superior and inferior bridging leaflets partially to close the SC (sometimes incorrectly named the mitral valve cleft). RESULT: The overall hospital mortality was 3.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1, 8.4%), which did not differ statistically in the last 20 years. No specific risk factors for early death were identified. Eleven patients (8.7%, 95% CI 4.7, 15.4%) required reoperation, 10 for LAVV repair and 1 resection of subaortic stenosis. Univariate analysis of risk factors for LAVV reoperation were low weight, relatively small size LAVV, the presence of a small preoperative interventricular interchordal communication and duration of ventilation. Ten (9.8%) of 102 patients in whom SC was sutured required LAVV reoperation but none for 24 in whom the commissure was left alone. CONCLUSION: The hypothesis that in the absence of preoperative LAVVR it is necessary to place sutures in the SC has not been proven. We consider that in addition to preoperative cross sectional echocardiographic assessment of LAVVR intraoperative evaluation of LAVV function allows discrimination between those valves where sutures to the septal commissure are necessary and those where the valve can be left undisturbed.