Modified Single-Patch Technique Versus Two-Patch Technique for the Repair of Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect: A Meta-Analysis

Long-term results following atrioventricular septal defect repair

BACKGROUND

Atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD) represent 4-7% of congenital cardiac malformations. Definitive early repair is favored over prior pulmonary artery banding and delayed definitive repair in many centers. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcomes following AVSD repair over a 21-year period.

METHODS

A total of 202 consecutive patients underwent surgical AVSD correction between June 1999 and December 2020. Surgery was performed using the double-patch technique. The study data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Primary outcomes were In-hospital mortality and overall long-term freedom from reoperation.

RESULTS

Median age at operation was 120 days (IQR 94-150), median weight was 5.0 kg (4.2-5.3). None of the patients died within the first 30 postoperative days. In-hospital mortality was 0.5% (1/202 patients). Median follow-up was 57 months (11-121). Overall freedom from reoperation at 5, 10 and 15 years was 91.8%, 86.9% and 86.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

AVSD repair with the double-patch technique is a safe and effective procedure with good early postoperative outcomes and low long-term reoperation rates.

Outcome of Down patients with repaired versus unrepaired atrioventricular septal defect

Background and aims

Patients with Down Syndrome (DS) are frequently born with an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). Surgical repair of the defect aims to minimize mortality and morbidity. However, a surgical intervention, specifically in DS patients, is not without risk and a subgroup of patients underwent only conservative non-surgical treatment. Outcome data of these different approaches are scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the long-term outcome of DS patients with and without surgery for AVSD.

Methods

DS patients registered with AVSD in the hospital's database from January 1980 till December 2020 were selected. Patient characteristics, peri-operative if appropriate, and follow-up data were obtained from the medical files.

Results

In total, 72 unrepaired (36 male, 50%) and 134 repaired patients (61 male, 46%) were included. After a maximum of 60 years of follow-up, the all-cause mortality was 45.8% and 17.1%, respectively. Thirty-six percent and 13%, respectively, were labeled as non-cardiovascular death. Mean survival time for unrepaired AVSD was 40.7 years (95% CI 36.1-45.2) and for repaired AVSD 38.5 years (95% CI 35.3-41.6) (Log rank p = 0.465). However, the survival rate 35 years after birth was 62.1% for unrepaired patients versus 81.7% for repaired patients. Mortality rates were the highest the first months after surgical repair.

Conclusions

The mean survival rate of Down patients, born with an AVSD, did not differ between repair or not. However, long-term survival rate was higher in patients who underwent surgical repair. Mortality was highest the first months after surgery.

The V-shaped double-layer patch technique for complete atrioventricular septal defect: A novel surgical technique

OBJECTIVE

Several surgical techniques for repair of a complete atrioventricular septal defect have been developed. However, the postoperative complications with these methods may lead to reoperation during follow-up. The aim of this report is to share our experience with a modified surgical technique for complete atrioventricular septal defect that has anatomic advantages postoperatively and could reduce the reoperation rate.

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients who underwent repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect using a V-shaped double-layer patch between April 2011 and September 2019 were retrospectively investigated.

RESULTS

There were no deaths (0%) and only 1 reoperation (3.4%) in the series. The aortic crossclamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 62.7 ± 16.0 minutes and 113.9 ± 25.9 minutes, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 5.1 years. To date, no significant residual ventricular septal defects have been detected and no left ventricular outflow tract obstruction has been seen on echocardiography in any patient. During follow-up, the left atrioventricular valve status was assessed as no incompetence in 9 patients (31.0%), trivial in 18 patients (62.1%), and mild in 2 patients (6.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

The V-shaped double-layer patch technique is a valuable surgical option for patients with complete atrioventricular septal defects. The midterm results in our series document excellent performance of this technique, which augments the area of the anterior valve of the left atrioventricular valve to make it closer to a normal mitral valve and may also reduce the need for reoperation.

A surgical approach of an unusual variant of complete atrioventricular defect; A case report

Background

Complete atrioventricular canal is a congenital heart defect that is characterized by an atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and a common atrioventricular valve. Standard surgical techniques for repairing complete atrioventricular canal defect mainly includes repairing the defect with a single patch, a double patch, or with the modified single patch technique.

Case presentation

This paper presents a novel surgical repair technique of an unusual anatomical presentation for a complete atrioventricular canal defect in a patient with Down syndrome.

Conclusions

Unusual anatomical variant for congenital heart defects occurs frequently, which gives surgeons real opportunities to innovate surgical approaches. This patient was an example of an unusual anatomical presentation for complete atrioventricular canal, and the surgical technique used for this patient was novel. Follow up for these patients is mandatory for long term results.

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

 

OBJECTIVES

There 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.

METHODS

We 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.

RESULTS

Twenty 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).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no correlation between VSD height and risk of reoperation after CAVSD repair. A deep ventricular scoop is uncommon in CAVSD patients.

Repair of complete atrioventricular canal defects: Early and midterm results and comparison of the left anterior leaflet augmentation technique with traditional technics

BACKGROUND

Complete atrioventricular septal defects (CAVSD) include a variable spectrum of congenital malformations with different forms of clinical findings. We examined early and midterm outcomes, the need for reoperation, postoperative residual AV valve regurgitation, and other risk factors after various CAVSD repairs.

METHODS

Between 2014 and 2018, we have performed 89 isolated CAVSD repairs. We retrospectively reviewed the patients' medical records. Patients were divided into three groups according to their repair techniques modified one patch repair (MP) (n = 16); two patch repair (TP) (n = 49); and left anterior leaflet augmentation (ALA) technique (n = 24).

RESULTS

Eighty patients (89.8%) survived hospital discharge. Early mortality rates were three (18.8%) in the group MP, five (10.2%) in the group TP, and one (4.2%) in the group ALA. Thirteen patients died during the follow-up period. Late mortality rates were three (18.8%) in the group MP, four (16.6%) in the group ALA, and six (12.2%) in the group TP. The mean follow-up time was 35.9 ± 22.97 months (range: 0.3-77 months). The morbidity and mortality results were similar between-group TP and ALA but worse in the MP group. Low body weight (<4 kg) and younger age at surgery (<4 months) were found to be risk factors on mortality by univariate and multivariate analysis. Surgical technic was not found to be an independent risk factor.

CONCLUSION

In our series, TP and ALA techniques had satisfactory results in early and midterm periods. Younger age and small bodyweight might increase early mortality and the need for reoperation.

Surgical Management for Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defects: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis is performed for a comparison of outcomes between the modified one-patch repair (MPR) and two-patch repair (TPR) for complete atrioventricular septal defects (CAVSD). Electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched systematically for the literature which aimed mainly at comparing the therapeutic effects for CAVSD administrated by MPR and TPR. Corresponding data sets were extracted and two reviewers independently assessed the risks of bias. Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3 and Stata 12.0. Fifteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included, involving 2076 subjects in total. It was observed that MPR was associated with shorter cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamp (ACC) times, as compared with TPR. However, no statistical differences were found in terms of size of ventricular septal defects (VSD), reoperation, mortality, implantation of permanent pacemakers, and length of ventilation, hospital and intensive care unit stay. As compared with TPR, MPR is superior in terms of ACC and CPB. However, with regard to reoperation, mortality, length of ventilation, ICU and hospital stay and permanent pacemakers implantation, no significant differences are found between these two procedures. MPR is likely to apply to younger infants with faster completion of surgery. Surgery is recommended between 3 and 6 months of age.

Management of Congenital Heart Disease: State of the Art; Part I-ACYANOTIC Heart Defects

Since the description of surgery for patent ductus arteriosus in late 1930s, an innumerable number of advances have taken place in the management of congenital heart defects (CHDs). In this review the current status of treatment of seven of the most common acyanotic CHDs was reviewed. The discussion included indications for, and timing of, intervention and methods of intervention. The indications are, by and large, determined by the severity of the lesion. Pressure gradients in obstructive lesions and the magnitude of the shunt in left-to-right shunt lesions are used to assess the severity of the lesion. The timing of intervention is different for each lesion and largely dependent upon when the criteria for indications for intervention were met. Appropriate medical management is necessary in most patients. Trans-catheter methods are preferable in some defects while surgery is a better option in some other defects. The currently available medical, trans-catheter, and surgical methods to treat acyanotic CHD are feasible, safe, and effective.

Recent advances in managing septal defects: ventricular septal defects and atrioventricular septal defects

This review discusses the management of ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and atrioventricular septal defects (AVSDs). There are several types of VSDs: perimembranous, supracristal, atrioventricular septal, and muscular. The indications for closure are moderate to large VSDs with enlarged left atrium and left ventricle or elevated pulmonary artery pressure (or both) and a pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio greater than 2:1. Surgical closure is recommended for large perimembranous VSDs, supracristal VSDs, and VSDs with aortic valve prolapse. Large muscular VSDs may be closed by percutaneous techniques. A large number of devices have been used in the past for VSD occlusion, but currently Amplatzer Muscular VSD Occluder is the only device approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. A hybrid approach may be used for large muscular VSDs in small babies. Timely intervention to prevent pulmonary vascular obstructive disease (PVOD) is germane in the management of these babies. There are several types of AVSDs: partial, transitional, intermediate, and complete. Complete AVSDs are also classified as balanced and unbalanced. All intermediate and complete balanced AVSDs require surgical correction, and early repair is needed to prevent the onset of PVOD. Surgical correction with closure of atrial septal defect and VSD, along with repair and reconstruction of atrioventricular valves, is recommended. Palliative pulmonary artery banding may be considered in babies weighing less than 5 kg and those with significant co-morbidities. The management of unbalanced AVSDs is more complex, and staged single-ventricle palliation is the common management strategy. However, recent data suggest that achieving two-ventricle repair may be a better option in patients with suitable anatomy, particularly in patients in whom outcomes of single-ventricle palliation are less than optimal. The majority of treatment modes in the management of VSDs and AVSDs are safe and effective and prevent the development of PVOD and cardiac dysfunction.

A review of the Nunn modified single patch technique for atrioventricular septal defect repair

Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a common congenital cardiac surgical problem. Over the years, younger and smaller infants are having operations for this condition before irreversible cardio pulmonary changes occur. Traditionally a single or two patch techniques have been used to repair this defect. However, in the past two decades an innovative method of modified single patch technique popularized by Dr. Graham Nunn has gained worldwide popularity. This review discusses the origin, surgical principles, technique and outcomes of this method, popularly known as Nunn or Australian technique. Research comparing the modified single patch technique to classic single and double patch techniques has shown good preservation of atrioventricular valve function, no residual ventricular septal defect (VSDs), low incidence of left ventricular outflow obstruction, preserved conduction, easy reproducibility, and improved perioperative and long-term mortality.