Mustard's operation for patients with ventriculoarterial concordance. Report of two cases and a cautionary tale.

Three patients with ventriculoarterial concordance and an abnormal atrioventricular connexion were investigated. One patient had total anomalous pulmonary venous connexion to a left vertical vein. In 1972 this was repaired and a ventricular septal defect was closed, but the presence of atrioventricular discordance was missed and the patient died. In the other two patients, Mustard's operation resulted in survival. One patient had situs solitus and atrioventricular discordance with an associated ventricular septal defect, which was closed. The other had left isomerism (quasi solitus) with an ambiguous atrioventricular connexion (quasi discordant). A previously noted ventricular septal defect had spontaneously closed.     

Mustard's operation for patients with ventriculoarterial concordance. Report of two cases and a cautionary tale

Three patients with ventriculoarterial concordance and an abnormal atrioventricular connexion were investigated. One patient had total anomalous pulmonary venous connexion to a left vertical vein. In 1972 this was repaired and a ventricular septal defect was closed, but the presence of atrioventricular discordance was missed and the patient died. In the other two patients, Mustard's operation resulted in survival. One patient had situs solitus and atrioventricular discordance with an associated ventricular septal defect, which was closed. The other had left isomerism (quasi solitus) with an ambiguous atrioventricular connexion (quasi discordant). A previously noted ventricular septal defect had spontaneously closed.     

Overriding atrioventricular valves. An angiographic-anatomical correlate

An analysis of 6 patients with overriding atrioventricular valve was performed in order to correlate the anatomic and angiographic features of this malformation. The atrial arrangement was usual (situs solitus) in each patient. The ventricular chambers were normally related in 4 and the mirror image of normal in 2. The atrioventricular connexion was concordant in parallel fashion in 4, discordant in 1 and double inlet left ventricle in 1 heart. In 2 of 4 hearts with concordant atrioventricular connexion, the right atrioventricular valve (tricuspid) overrode the septum and connected partially to the left ventricle. In 2, the left atrioventricular valve (mitral) overrode the septum and partially connected with the right ventricle. One heart with discordant atrioventricular connexion had its right atrioventricular valve (mitral) overriding the septum. The remaining heart with double inlet left ventricle had an overriding left atrioventricular valve. Each overriding atrioventricular valve had its "septal" leaflet (the one committed to the contralateral ventricle) divided into 2 segments by a large cleft. Ventricular septal defects at different locations were present in all cases. The ventriculoarterial connexion was double outlet right ventricle in 5 patients and was discordant in 1. Malalignment of the atrial and ventricular septa was present to some degree in all cases. This was well depicted on ventriculograms in four chamber view in those with an overriding tricuspid valve. It was not detected in those with an overriding mitral valve. The displaced leaflets of the overriding and/or stradding valve had a vertical motion on cineangiograms similar to those observed in atrioventricular septal defects. Abnormal morphology and motion of the septal leaflet of the overriding atrioventricular valve and malalignment of the atrial and ventricular septal structures were the most important angiographic findings in this series.     

Ventricular septal defect with congenital mitral valve disease: long-term results of corrective surgery

BACKGROUND: A retrospective analysis of the mortality, morbidity and long-term follow-up of patients undergoing corrective surgery for ventricular septal defect and congenital mitral valve disease is presented. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between January 1991 and December 2000, 69 consecutive patients aged 2 months to 45 years (median 18 months) underwent repair of ventricular septal defect and associated mitral valve disease. In 52 patients (75%), the ventricular septal defects were located in the perimembranous and subarterial area. Forty-six patients had congenital mitral incompetence and 23 had congenital mitral stenosis. The ventricular septal defect was repaired through the right atrium in all. Sixty-five patients underwent reconstruction of the mitral valve and 4 underwent primary mitral valve replacement. Another 4 patients underwent mitral valve replacement after a failed repair. Associated procedures included: patent ductus arteriosus ligation (n=12), aortic valve replacement (n=6), coarctation repair (n=13), interrupted aortic arch repair (n=1), atrial septal defect closure (n=17) and Takeuchi repair (n=1). There were 6 early deaths (8.6%). Three deaths were due to pulmonary arterial hypertensive crisis and one due to residual mitral stenosis. One death was due to intractable congestive heart failure. Another patient died due to persistent low cardiac output. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 120 months (mean 64.4+/-33.6 months). Reoperation was required in 22 patients, mainly for recurrent/residual mitral valve dysfunction or hemodynamically significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. There were 4 late deaths, 2 due to residual mitral stenosis and the other 2 as a result of a thrombosed prosthetic valve. At 10 years, the actuarial survival rate was 850+/-5.0%, and freedom from reoperation was 45%+/-10.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction of the mitral valve along with closure of VSD is possible in most cases. However, careful follow-up is recommended to detect changes in the mitral valve status over a course of time.     

Adults with Down Syndrome: Safety and Long-term Outcome of Cardiac Operation

Objective. As limited data exist, we sought to review the safety and outcome of cardiac surgery in the adult Down syndrome population. Design. We reviewed the data of all patients ≥18 years old with Down syndrome who underwent cardiac surgery (1969–2008) at our hospital. Results. Fifty patients underwent 57 surgeries (mean age 33 years). Fifteen patients had prior cardiac operations in childhood: 7 complete and 1 partial atrioventricular canal, 2 secundum atrial septal defect, 2 Tetralogy of Fallot, 1 patent ductus arteriosus, 1 combined atrioventricular canal and Tetralogy of Fallot, and 1 ventricular septal defect. Operations in adult Down syndrome patients included repair of partial atrioventricular canal in 17, aortic valve replacement in 7, mitral valve replacement/repair in 7, ventricular septal defect in 6, atrial septal defect in 3, Tetralogy of Fallot in 3, pulmonary valve replacement in 3, and other in 11. There was 1 in-hospital death (1.8%) from multiorgan failure. The mean hospital stay was 10.6 days. Average ventilatory support was 2.4 days (range 0–32). Atrial arrhythmias occurred in 14 patients (25%). Six patients had early postoperative pulmonary infections. Mean follow-up was 6 years, maximum 29 years. There were eight late deaths at an average age of 52 years (range 30–58) occurring 15 years postoperatively (range 32 days–29 years); two in the setting of dementia (mean age 56 years). Conclusion. At an experienced center, adult patients with Down syndrome can undergo cardiac surgery with a low risk of mortality and acceptable morbidity. Atrial arrhythmias and pulmonary infections are common postoperatively.     

Severe obstruction to systemic blood flow in congenitally corrected transposition (discordant atrioventricular and ventriculo-arterial connexions): an analysis of 14 patients

The more common associated cardiac anomalies in any cohort of patients with discordant atrioventricular and ventriculo-arterial connexions (congenitally corrected transposition) include ventricular septal defect, left ventricular (subpulmonary) outlet obstruction, and displacement and/or dysplasia of the morphologically tricuspid valve. There is scant mention in the literature of severe obstruction to systemic blood flow at aortic valve level or beyond in these hearts. The present study reviews those pertinent morphological-clinical and follow-up data on 14 patients with congenitally corrected transposition and aortic valve atresia (one patient); aortic arch interruption or aortic arch atresia (two patients) and coarctation of the aorta (11 patients). All but one patient (the patient with aortic valve atresia) had a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Mild outflow tract obstruction of the morphologically left ventricle was identified in one patient. Nine patients, however, demonstrated a significant structural and functional disturbance (Ebstein-like with dysplasia) of the systemic morphologically tricuspid valve. No patient in this series was identified with isolated aortic coarctation.     

Double outlet right ventricle with discordant atrioventricular connexion: an angiographic analysis of 19 cases

Nineteen patients with double outlet right ventricle and discordant atrioventricular connexion were studied in order to analyze their angiographic anatomy. The discordant atrioventricular connexion was parallel in 18 patients and criss-cross in one. A ventricular septal defect, present in all cases, was perimembranous in ten (50%), muscular in seven (37%), and was part of an atrioventricular septal defect in two. The defect was related spatially to the subaortic outflow in six (29%), to the subpulmonary outflow in 11 (52%), was doubly committed in one and non-committed in two. Long axial and four-chamber views of the ventriculograms were most useful for the angiographic delineation of the basic anatomy of this entity. In patients with abnormally located hearts, variations of the axial views were necessary for proper delineation of the anatomy. It is concluded that modified axial views of ventriculograms are useful for diagnosis of double outlet right ventricle and discordant atrioventricular connexions.     

Coarctation of the aorta in infancy

Twenty-five infants under 1 year of age (mean weight 3.4 kg) underwent repair of coarctation of the aorta between the years 1965 and 1982. Three patients had coarctation only, three had coarctation with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and 19 had associated intracardiac anomalies. Eleven patients underwent resection of the aorta and end-to-end anastomosis. Eight had subclavian flap arterioplasty, five had patch graft arterioplasty, and one had subclavian-to-aortic anastomosis. Additional procedures were performed on seven patients: banding of the pulmonary artery on one, repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage on one, mitral valve replacement on one, aortic valvotomy on one, and aortic valvotomy plus pulmonary artery banding on one. Twenty-one survived the operation. All patients who died had associated intracardiac anomalies. The 21 survivors have been followed from 3 months to 13 years, with three late deaths that were associated with intracardiac anomalies. Five of the survivors underwent additional second operations: one had repair of the re-coarctation, one had replacement of the prosthetic mitral valve, one had aortic valvotomy, and two had pulmonary artery debanding and closure of a ventricular septal defect. Two of the 18 surviving patients have mild hypertension associated with a residual gradient. The others are in good health.     

Coronary artery fistulas in pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect

Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect is an anomaly with highly variable anatomy. Rarely, a coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula may contribute to pulmonary blood flow. Since 1996, we have treated 4 patients with coronary-pulmonary fistula associated with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect. Two fistulas originated from the left coronary, one from the right coronary, and one from a right-sided solitary coronary system. All terminated in the main pulmonary artery, which was adequate in all cases. The fistulas were managed by direct internal closure. Total intracardiac repair was then accomplished in all patients at the same sitting. There was one death. In children with favorable anatomy, direct closure of the fistula from the pulmonary artery is adequate and allows single-stage intracardiac repair.     

Corrected transposition of great arteries. Surgical results

Thirteen patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries underwent cardiac surgery between May 1964 and May 1984. Eleven cases underwent corrective surgery and two palliative treatment. Four cases had closure of the ventricular septal defect two had pulmonary valvotomy, two closure of atrial septal defect and three tricuspid valve replacement. Two patients developed atrioventricular dissociation, requiring pacemaker insertion. Two patients died, one in the immediate postoperative period in pulmonary edema, and another due to bacterial endocarditis 3 years after surgery. Our observations suggest that surgical treatment of corrected transposition can be achieved with acceptable risks. The long-term follow up in the survivors was excellent.     

Complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot: diagnosis and management.

OBJECTIVE--To report recent experience of patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot, with emphasis on anatomical features, diagnosis, and management. DESIGN--Case notes were reviewed and patients were assessed at follow up by clinical examination and cross sectional and Doppler echocardiography. SETTING--Tertiary cardiothoracic referral centre. PATIENTS--Between 1987 and 1992 13 patients with atrioventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot (12 with concordant and one with double outlet ventriculoarterial connections) underwent surgery; 10 underwent complete intracardiac repair. 11 patients had Down's syndrome. The complete diagnosis was established preoperatively by cross sectional echocardiography in all but one patient. A tri-leaflet left atrioventricular valve as seen in parasternal short axis views was the diagnostic feature of atrioventricular septal defect, with tetralogy of Fallot diagnosed from the presence of anterocephalad deviation of the outlet septum producing subvalvar pulmonary stenosis as seen in subcostal right anterior oblique views. INTERVENTIONS--Total correction consisted of closure of the atrioventricular septal defect by a combined right atrial and ventricular approach, reconstruction of the atrioventricular valves, and relief of the obstruction within the right ventricular outflow tract. Separate patches were used to close the atrial and ventricular septal defects. Modified Blalock-Taussig shunts were performed in three patients, who await intracardiac repair. Surgical correction was carried out at mean (range) age of 5 (2 to 15) years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Diagnostic methods, surgical results, and functional state after complete correction. RESULTS--The presence of an atrioventricular septal defect was missed preoperatively in one patient with tetralogy of Fallot. The characteristic goose neck deformity on the left ventriculogram was not present and the tri-leaflet nature of the left atrioventricular valve was not sought on echocardiography. Of the 10 patients who underwent complete repair, nine are alive and one died 34 days after operation with adult respiratory distress syndrome. Examination at necropsy showed an excellent surgical correction. Mean (range) follow up was 23 (8 to 48) months. All nine patients are alive and well (New York Heart Association Class 1). CONCLUSION--Accurate diagnosis and staged management with improved surgical techniques have lowered mortality of this complex combination of cardiac defects. The current policy of this group is to recommend a systemic to pulmonary arterial shunt procedure for symptomatic children younger than 2 years and total correction in older children.     

心内直视下镶嵌治疗肌部室间隔缺损

目的 探讨心内直视下镶嵌治疗肌部室间隔缺损（mVSD）的手术方法及临床疗效.方法 2008年1月至2013年7月,在体外循环心内直视下镶嵌治疗肌部室间隔缺损29例,男19例,女10例,年龄2个月～7岁;其中单个肌部室间隔缺损7例,多发室间隔缺损22例.合并法洛四联症5例,完全性大血管转位1例,肺动脉瓣狭窄3例,房间隔缺损6例,主动脉缩窄3例.合并心脏畸形均同期手术纠治.结果 死亡2例,死亡率6.9％.术后随访3个月～3年,无远期死亡,封堵器边缘少量残余分流3例,无封堵器偏移、二尖瓣反流、主动脉瓣反流、Ⅲ度房室传导阻滞.结论 心内直视下镶嵌治疗肌部室间隔缺损是一种安全、简便、有效的方法.     

双心室矫治法洛四联症合并完全性房室间隔缺损的效果

目的:回顾性总结采用双室性矫治法洛四联症合并完全性房室间隔缺损(TOF/CAVSD)的外科手术经验及其效果分析。方法:自2004年1月至2011年12月期间,上海儿童医学中心连续对16例TOF/CAVSD,其中伴有唐氏综合征2例,手术年龄中位数9个月(4个月~12岁),手术时体质量中位数8 kg(4.7~35 kg),术前有56%患者伴有中度以上左侧房室瓣反流,31%患者伴有中度以上右侧房室瓣反流;术前平均肺动脉指数为(168±23)mm2/m2。合并的CAVSD矫治中均采用了双片法,其中有8例(50%)采用右心室流出道(RVOT)切口径路修补室间隔缺损,另外50%患者采用右心房切口径路修补室间隔缺损,仅有1例室间隔缺损补片上留孔,右心室流出道梗阻(RVOTO)处理中,13例患者(81%)施用心包补片跨瓣扩大成形右心室流出道和肺动脉,其中1例带有单瓣。结果:术后医院生存率为93.75%。术后平均呼吸机辅助时间为(166±22.5)h,平均监护室留驻时间中位数为7d。4例患者出现术后严重并发症,其中发生低心排出量综合征(低心排)者3例,多脏器功能损害者1例。出院时12.5%(2例)患者术后二尖瓣反流(轻-中度),12.5%患者术后轻度三尖瓣反流(TR),无1例存在左心室流出道梗阻(LVOTO)。随访期6个月~5年,随访期无死亡,无1例出现LVOTO,无再手术干预;3例肺动脉远端流速增快者已登记介入治疗;随访发现生存60%患者二尖瓣反流为轻微-轻度;同时发现有1/3生存者三尖瓣反流为轻微-轻度;随访期存在中度肺动脉血反流患者为86%。1/3生存患者的右心室舒张末容积相应正常年龄正常值。结论:双心室矫治法TOF/CAVSD的短中期效果好,推荐采用双片法矫治CAVSD;与单纯TOF或CAVSD手术一样,必须定期随访复查,需关注房室瓣功能、肺动脉发育、肺动脉逆向血流和心室功能。     

Absent left-sided atrioventricular connexion, with right atrium connected to left ventricle: prospective diagnosis in infancy, and outcome.

Prospective echocardiographic diagnosis of absence of the left atrioventricular connexion, with the right atrium connected to a morphologic left ventricle through a bileaflet morphologically mitral valve, was made in six infants. The rudimentary right ventricle was left-sided in all patients, and separated from the left atrium by sulcus tissue. The ventriculoarterial connexions were discordant. Associated defects included subpulmonary stenosis (2 patients), pulmonary atresia (1 patient), and a patent duct (4 patients). All patients developed early left atrial hypertension due to a restrictive interatrial septum, and required transcatheter septostomy (5 patients), or surgical septectomy (3 patients). One patient who had a severely restrictive ventricular septal defect died following cardiac catheterization. In three others the ventricular septal defect has become progressively restrictive on serial catheterization. Successful intermediate term palliation has been performed in two patients using a bidirectional Glenn anastomosis, together with enlargement of the ventricular septal defect and a Damus-Kay-Stansel procedure in one. It is possible to distinguish this malformation from "mitral atresia" using cross-sectional echocardiography. The long-term outlook is influenced by early relief of left atrial hypertension. Balloon atrial septostomy alone is usually inadequate, and either blade septostomy or surgical septectomy are required. Serial cardiac catheterization is mandatory for planning definitive palliation.     

Discordant atrioventricular connexion with concordant ventriculo-arterial connexion (so-called "isolated ventricular inversion") with usual atrial arrangement (situs solitus)

The combination of a discordant atrioventricular connexion with a concordant ventriculo-arterial connexion (so-called "isolated ventricular inversion") is an extremely rare entity described, to the best of our knowledge, on only 15 occasions in patients with usual atrial arrangement. Initial diagnosis at cross-sectional echocardiography has only been reported three times, but the combination has been diagnosed in life on seven occasions, with successful Mustard or Senning operations having been performed in six of these patients. We report a neonate referred with an initial diagnosis of complete transposition, who was correctly diagnosed at cross-sectional echocardiography, and had closure of an associated ventricular septal defect with a Senning procedure in the neonatal period.     

Double discordance with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary artery hypertension. A study of 21 cases

This paper reports a retrospective study of 21 children with atrioventricular and ventriculo-arterial discordance, or double discordance, associated with a large ventricular septal defect responsible for pulmonary hypertension. Other associated congenital defects were: atrioventricular block (5 cases), coarctation of the aorta with neonatal cardiac failure (6 cases), tricuspid valve malformations responsible for significant tricuspid regurgitation (11 cases) and right ventricular hypoplasia (1 case). Two children died before any therapeutic intervention, one from syncope related to atrioventricular block and the other after a decision of therapeutic abstention. Three children underwent total correction with one good result (the only case of situs inversus), one late death and one lost to follow-up. The majority of patients (n = 16) underwent initial palliative surgery consisting in pulmonary artery banding occasionally associated with reconstruction of the aortic arch: there was no early mortality but there were 2 late deaths. Of the 14 survivors, 6 are well after a mean follow-up period of 31 months. Eight underwent open heart surgery with 1 operative death, 6 post-operative complete atrioventricular blocks requiring cardiac pacing and 5 poor results due to aggravation or secondary tricuspid regurgitation leading to 1 cardiac transplantation (death) and 2 reoperations for valvular surgery (1 plasty and 1 tricuspid valve replacement). The overall results of this series are poor: high mortality (33 per cent) and equally high morbidity when direct surgery is undertaken. Two major complications are observed: complete atrioventricular block (55 per cent) and regurgitation of the systemic atrioventricular valve (45 per cent), both of which often necessitate invalidating complementary procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Autologous pericardial valved conduit for the Ross operation

The feasibility and function of autologous pericardial valved conduit for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in the Ross operation were assessed. Between June 1997 and April 2002, 31 patients underwent this procedure at our institution; one was lost to follow-up. The other 26 males and 4 females were aged 17 to 60 years (mean, 36.6 years). Causes of aortic valve disease were infective endocarditis in 26 and rheumatic valve disease in 4. Mean follow-up was 16.7 months (range, 1-58 months). Preoperatively, 9 patients were in functional class II, 19 in class III, and 2 in class IV. Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass (1), mitral valve replacement (6), tricuspid valve replacement (1), and ventricular septal defect closure (1). Mean aortic crossclamp time was 199.4 min. There were 4 (13.3%) hospital deaths and no late death. Mean postoperative functional class was 1.17 with +0.36 aortic regurgitation, a peak gradient of 21.9 mm Hg (range, 6-59 mm Hg) across the conduit, and grade +0.96 pulmonary regurgitation. No conduit-related complication was detected. Use of autologous valved conduit for the Ross operation is feasible. Long-term follow-up is mandatory to assess durability.     

Ventricular septal defect complicated by infective endocarditis of the aortic valve causing severe aortic regurgitation: the role of aortic valve repair

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) who develop severe aortic regurgitation following infective endocarditis (IE) require aortic valve replacement in most cases. Few reports exist of repair of the aortic valve under such circumstances. Here, we report details from two patients in whom aortic valve repair resulted in a good outcome. METHODS: Two children (aged 4 and 3 years) with either perimembranous or doubly committed subarterial VSD presented with congestive cardiac failure (NYHA class IV) following IE. The aortic valve in both children, and the pulmonary valve in one child, were severely damaged with vegetation, leading to severe (grade IV) aortic regurgitation. The second patient had bilateral bronchiectasis with respiratory infection and severe anemia. In addition to VSD closure, partial cuspal replacement using glutaraldehyde-tanned pericardium was performed successfully in both cases to restore geometry. RESULTS: Both children showed a dramatic improvement following surgery and during follow up of 36 and 11 months, respectively. Both remained asymptomatic, with good growth, good left ventricular function and the presence of only trivial aortic regurgitation. CONCLUSION: In selected patients with suitable anatomy, repair of the aortic valve with pericardial cusp replacement may be the procedure of choice. An additional benefit is the avoidance of long-term anticoagulation.     

Successfully treated triple valve infective endocarditis: a case report

A 45-year-old woman presented with triple valve infective endocarditis and ventricular septal defect. There were vegetations on the tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, and aortic valve. She had multiple complications such as nephrotic syndrome, severe anemia, congestive heart failure, and convulsion. Her general condition was extremely poor. Intensive medical therapy, such as blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation, and continuous venovenous hemofiltration, allowed her to tolerate surgery. Triple valve replacement and ventricular septal defect closure was successfully performed without major complication. She was ambulatory at the time of discharge.     

Cleft of the mitral valve in patients with Down's syndrome

Differentiation between a cleft of the mitral valve and the cleft of the left side of an atrioventricular septal defect--a lesion commonly found in patients with Down's syndrome--is surgically important since the distribution of the conduction tissue varies between the 2 lesions. We sought to determine if cleft of the mitral valve occurs also in patients with Down's syndrome. We studied 5 patients with Down's syndrome and cleft of the mitral valve followed in our institution. Echocardiography showed in all 5 patients a cleft dividing the anterior (aortic) leaflet of mitral valve with normal papillary muscle position, mural leaflet size, and ratio of the inlet/outlet dimension of the left ventricle. Associated cardiac lesions were present in all 5 patients: perimembranous ventricular septal defect in 3, ostium secundum atrial septal defect in 2 and patent ductus arteriosus in 2 patients. During the 5.6 years (0.2-11) of the follow-up period, surgical repair of the cleft was never indicated since the mitral regurgitation through the cleft remained mild or absent in all the patients. Two patients underwent closure of a ventricular septal defect, with atrial septal defect closure in one and ductal ligation in 2. One patient died suddenly at home, without evidence of a cardiac cause. In conclusion, a cleft of the mitral valve has important developmental and morphologic differences with atrioventricular septal defect and may occur in patients with Down's syndrome. If surgical repair of the cleft or of associated cardiac lesion is indicated, it is necessary to distinguish it from atrioventricular septal defect where the conduction axis is displaced posteriorly and may be exposed during surgery.