Surgery for right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit obstruction: risk factors for further reoperation

• Published in: European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 217 - 222
• Main Authors: Mohammadi, Siamak, Belli, Emre, Martinovic, Ivo, Houyel, Lucile, Capderou, André, Petit, Jérome, Planché, Claude, Serraf, Alain
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Cardiology. Vascular system; Child; Child, Preschool; Congenital heart defect; Double Outlet Right Ventricle - mortality; Double Outlet Right Ventricle - surgery; Female; Heart Defects, Congenital - mortality; Heart Defects, Congenital - surgery; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular - mortality; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular - surgery; Heart Ventricles - surgery; Humans; Infant; Male; Medical sciences; Pneumology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Pulmonary Artery - surgery; Pulmonary Atresia - mortality; Pulmonary Atresia - surgery; Redo surgery; Reoperation; Risk Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Tetralogy of Fallot - mortality; Tetralogy of Fallot - surgery; Time Factors; Transposition of Great Vessels - mortality; Transposition of Great Vessels - surgery; Truncus Arteriosus - surgery; Valved conduit; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction - mortality; Ventricular Outflow Obstruction - surgery; Valved conduit; Congenital heart defect; Redo surgery; Reoperation; Right pulmonary artery; Cardiovascular disease; Obstruction; Phlebology; Treatment; Surgery; Risk factor; Circulatory system; Cardiology; Congenital cardiopathy
• ISSN: 1010-7940; 1873-734X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2005.04.014

Objective: To identify the surgical approaches and risk factors which influence longevity of right ventricle to pulmonary artery (RV–PA) conduits following first reoperation for obstruction. Methods: Between January 1993 and August 2003, 114 patients underwent 141 reoperations for RV–PA conduit obstruction. Diagnoses included ‘Truncus Arteriosus’ (n=52), ‘Pulmonary atresia/Tetralogy of fallot’ (n=39), ‘Double outlet right ventricle’ (n=10), ‘Transposition of great arteries, VSD, and pulmonary atresia’ (n=9), and the ‘Ross operation’ (n=4). All patients had undergone a previous biventricular repair. The first reoperation for conduit obstruction was performed in 112 hospital survivors by: total conduit replacement (Group A, n=73) with valved (homograft=10 and xenograft=54) or non-valved (n=9) conduit, and patch enlargement of the obstructed RV outflow tract with preservation of the posterior and sides of the conduit wall after removing of the fibrocalcific peel and degenerated valve (Group B, n=39). Mean age at first reoperation was 8.8±6.7 and 7.5±5.3 years in patients of groups A and B, respectively. Seven patients in Group A and 18 in Group B required a second reoperation and two patients in Group B a third reoperation. Results: There were two hospital deaths and no late deaths. Mean follow-up was 5.8±3.2 years. Risk factors for second reoperation by univariate analysis were: homograft conduit use (P=0.004), Group B surgical approach (P=0.0001), higher RV–PA systolic pressure gradient at discharge (P=0.02), and age <5-years-old (P=0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that inclusion in Group B and younger age (<5-years-old) at repair were independent risk factors for second reoperation. Group B surgical approaches had higher RV–PA systolic pressure gradient at discharge (P=0.02) and required more PA bifurcation repair at the time of second reoperation (P=0.05). Freedom from second reoperation for conduit obstruction was significantly higher in Group A patients at 5 and 8 years (P<0.04) and those with xenografts rather than homograft (P=0.04). Conclusions: Our results support the optimal surgical approach for RV–PA conduit obstruction is total replacement with a xenograft. RV outflow reconstruction by other techniques without complete dissection of PA bifurcation does not completely relieve the stenosis and could cause early restenosis. Higher systolic gradients at discharge and younger age at first reoperation are predictors of earlier reoperation.