Does left ventricular outflow tract obstruction influence outcome of interrupted aortic arch repair?

BACKGROUND: In previous studies left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) has been recognized as an important factor affecting survival and reoperation probability in patients having repair of an interrupted aortic arch (IAA). METHODS: All 72 patients who underwent operation for IAA from January 1, 1985 to June 30, 1997 were reviewed. The presence or absence of LVOTO was noted and the immediate and long-term results were analyzed. RESULTS: Type A IAA was found in 23 patients and type B IAA in 49 patients. Anomalous right subclavian artery was noted in 15 patients, all of whom had type B IAA. LVOTO was identified in 36 patients before arch repair and was associated with the presence of type B IAA and anomalous right subclavian artery (p = 0.02 and 0.007, respectively). There were 2 hospital deaths (within 30 days) for a mortality of 2.8% (confidence limit [CL] = 0% to 6.6%). There were 7 late deaths over 3,737 patient-months of follow-up (9.7%, CL = 2.9% to 16.6%). Actuarial survival for the whole cohort was 84.8% (CL = 73.2% to 94.4%) at 12 years. There was 87% 10-year survival (CL = 60% to 93%) for patients with LVOTO at presentation compared with 83% (CL = 62% to 92%) for patients without LVOTO (p = 0.85, hazard function 0.87). Twenty-eight patients have required at least one reoperation. The use of conduits to restore right ventricular to pulmonary artery continuity predicted the need for reoperation (p = 0.0001). Patients with presence of a nonseptatable heart were also more likely to need reoperation (p = 0.027) when compared to the rest of the cohort. Freedom from reoperation was 47.3% (CL = 30% to 62%) at 12 years. In patients with LVOTO, freedom from reoperation (55% at 10 years, CL = 33% to 72%) was not significantly different from those patients without LVOTO at presentation (29% at 10 years, CL = 7% to 56%; p = 0.97, hazard function 0.7). Actuarial freedom from recurrent arch obstruction requiring reintervention was 82.7% (CL = 66.7% to 98.7%) at 12 years. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal complete repair of patients with IAA is possible with low mortality. LVOTO was not a significant risk factor for hospital or late death in patients having complete repair of IAA during this period. The use of conduits for right ventricular to pulmonary artery continuity and the presence of a nonseptatable heart are important risk factors for further operation and will continue to provide added morbidity to these patients.     

Left aortic arch and right descending aorta — interruption or severe coarctation of the aortic arch in the newborn

Three consecutive neonates (aged 7, 14 and 30 days, body-weight 2980g, 3000g and 3400g respectively) with interruption of the aorta (n = 2) and severe coarctation (n = 1) in the presence of left aortic arch and right descending aorta are reported. Associated lesions were an aortopulmonary window in the first case and an unrestrictive ventricular septal defect in the two others. Intractable heart failure and the complexity of the malformation led to the decision of a staged operation. A prosthetic graft was interposed between the ascending and descending aorta via a right thoracotomy in order to bridge the atretic or hypoplastic segment without using extracorporeal circulation. There was no intraoperative complication. One patient developed a thrombocytopenia within the frame of a sepsis syndrome and died on day 5 after operation, death being caused by a massive bleeding into the left thoracic cavity, although the operation was carried out via a right thoracotomy. Angiography 1 year after operation revealed a good flow through the grafts and no stenosis at the site of the anastomoses. The two surviving infants are clinically well without any medication. The reported operative technique provides an alternative palliative possibility to manage critically ill neonates without any obstacle to later definitive repair.     

How successful is successful? Aortic arch shape after successful aortic coarctation repair correlates with left ventricular function

Objectives

Even after successful aortic coarctation repair, there remains a significant incidence of late systemic hypertension and other morbidities. Independently of residual obstruction, aortic arch morphology alone may affect cardiac function and outcome. We sought to uncover the relationship of arch 3-dimensional shape features with functional data obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance scans.

Traumatic aortic injury: does the anatomy of the aortic arch influence aortic trauma severity?

Purpose

Traumatic aortic injury (TAI) is a rare but life-threatening type of injury. We investigate whether the anatomy of the aortic arch influences the severity of aortic injury.

Methods

This is a retrospective study of twenty-two cases treated with TEVAR for TAI in our department from 2009 to 2014. Aortic injury was assessed in accordance with the recommendations of the Society of Vascular Surgery. We measured the aortic arch angle and the aortic arch index, based on the initial angio-CT scan, in each of the analyzed cases.

Results

The mean aortic arch index and mean aortic arch angle were 6.8 cm and 58.3°, respectively, in the type I injury group; 4.4 cm and 45.9° in the type III group; 3.3 cm and 37° in the type IV group. There were substantial differences in both the aortic arch index and the aortic arch angle of the type III and IV groups. A multivariate analysis confirmed that the aortic arch angle was significantly associated with the occurrence of type III damage (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.03–2.2).

Conclusions

The severity of TAI is influenced by the sharpness of the aortic arch. There is an inverse relationship between the severity of aortic injury and the aortic arch index.

     

Right or left thoracotomy for esophageal atresia and right aortic arch? Systematic review and surgicoanatomic justification

Introduction

The optimal thoracotomy approach for the management of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) with a right aortic arch (RAA) remains controversial.

What is the optimal anticoagulation in patients with a left ventricular assist device?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether there is an optimal antithrombotic management for patients supported with axial-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Altogether, more than 758 papers were found using the reported search, of which 17 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. These included seven prospective and three retrospective cohort studies with a total of 538 patients with axial-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) (HeartMate II, Jarvik 2000, INCOR, Thoratec assist device) implanted across the world as destination therapy or bridge to transplantation. We conclude that there is a substantial alteration of the prothrombotic profile in patients with axial-flow LVADs. These abnormalities appeared to be reversible with the removal of the device and are likely to be responsible for the high incidence of non-surgical bleeding episodes reported. Warfarin seems to offer a lower thromboembolic risk compared with unfractioned heparin or low molecular weight heparin. There are reports that suggest that managing axial-flow LVAD without anticoagulation, after major bleeding complications, is possible but in all probability, these papers are subject to publication bias as poor outcomes are unlikely to have been reported. All patients with axial-flow LVAD, showed severely impaired platelet function at point of care tests. The use of warfarin (INR target 2.5), in association with aspirin at 100?mg/day, or with point-of-care tests titrated antiplatelet therapy to inhibit 70%, seems to have the best bleeding-thrombosis, and in many cases a very small dose of aspirin of 25?mg twice a day and a dose of clopidogrel of 35?mg/day, were sufficient to achieve a reduction of the maximum aggregation to less than 30%. Finally, we would like to emphasize that such recommendations are addressed only to patients with axial-flow LVAD.     

Recurrent arch obstruction after repair of isolated coarctation of the aorta in neonates and young infants: is low weight a risk factor?

BACKGROUND: Repair of aortic coarctation is often delayed in small infants because of the belief that such patients are at risk of recurrent arch obstruction and that growth will decrease this risk. To determine whether low weight was a risk factor for recurrent arch obstruction, we reviewed our experience with coarctation repair via left thoracotomy in infants less than 3 months of age. METHODS: From 1990 to 1999, 103 patients less than 3 months of age underwent repair of aortic coarctation through a left thoracotomy. Median age was 18 days (1-90 days), with 45 patients less than 2 weeks. Median weight was 3.3 kg (1.0-6.4 kg) and 14 patients were less than 2 kg. The method of repair was resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 64 patients, subclavian flap angioplasty in 34, and patch augmentation of the arch in 5. Demographic, echocardiographic, and operative variables were analyzed for correlation with recurrent arch obstruction. RESULTS: One early and 1 late death occurred, both in patients who had complications but no evidence of recoarctation. At median follow-up of 24 months, reinterventions for recurrent arch obstruction were performed in 15 patients. The median time to reintervention was 5 months and was less than 1 year in 12 patients. Kaplan-Meier freedom from arch reintervention was 88% at 1 year (95% confidence intervals: 82%-94%) and 82% at 5 years (95% confidence intervals: 72%-92%). Factors associated with shorter duration to arch reintervention by univariable Cox regression included younger age (continuous, P =.01; <2 weeks, P =.005), smaller transverse arch (absolute diameter, P <.001; indexed to weight, P =.03; indexed to ascending aortic diameter, P =.02), and smaller ascending aorta (absolute diameter, P =.02). Smaller absolute transverse arch diameter and younger age were the only independent predictors of shorter time to arch reintervention by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Weight and type of repair did not correlate with risk of recoarctation. CONCLUSIONS: Low weight is not a risk factor for recurrent obstruction after repair of coarctation of the aorta in infants less than 3 months of age. Rather, risk of recoarctation is more a function of the anatomy of the arch. Thus, it is not indicated to delay repair in low weight infants with the goal of achieving growth.     

Optimal timing for heart transplantation in patients bridged with left ventricular assist devices: Is timing of the essence?

ObjectivesDue to the scarcity of donor hearts to meet recipient demands, more than 40% of heart transplants are performed in patients bridged to transplant (BTT) with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BTT duration with an LVAD on posttransplant outcomes.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2014, we identified 2639 fee-for-service Medicare patients who underwent a primary heart transplants with 1186 (45%) patients BTT with an LVAD. The LVAD patients were stratified as BTT ≤31 days (n = 28 [2.4%]), BTT 31-365 days (n = 748 [63.1%]), and BTT >365 days (n = 409 [34.5%]). Patients went directly to heart transplantation and were not bridged in 1453 cases (55%). LVAD duration was analyzed dichotomously and as a continuous variable with adjusted overall survival as the primary end point.ResultsAll-cause mortality was significantly worse in patients who were BTT <31 days. Survival at 30 days was 81.5% for BTT <31 days, 94% for BTT 31 to 365 days, 95% for BTT >365 days, and 94% for no BTT. At 1 year, survival was 74% for BTT <31 days, 85% for BTT 31 to 365 days, 88% for BTT >365 days, and 89% for no BTT (P = .018). When LVAD duration was analyzed as a continuous variable, patients BTT with an LVAD <34 days had significantly increased mortality.ConclusionsPatients who underwent heart transplantation within the first month of BTT with an LVAD had significantly increased mortality. However, there was no survival difference among patients who were BTT with an LVAD longer than 31 days.