Major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs)--Bronchial fistula presenting as tracheotomy bleed

Results of surgery on adults with functional single ventricle without prior cardiac surgery in childhood

OBJECTIVES

Patients with unoperated functional single ventricle (FSV) rarely survive into adulthood with good functional status and there are few reports about surgical results of adult patients with FSV. This study retrospectively reviews our experience with surgery in adult patients with FSV.

METHODS

From January 2008 to September 2017, 65 adult patients with FSV underwent surgery in our hospital. Twenty underwent Blalock-Taussig shunt or bidirectional Glenn procedures in other hospitals prior, and four were lost to follow-up. Finally, 41 patients were included in this study.

RESULTS

The early postoperative mortality was 7.3% (3/41). Postoperative systemic arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂ , 83.7% ± 4.8%) was significantly higher than preoperative SpO₂ (77.9% ± 10.1%, P < .01). The mean follow-up time was 3.9 ± 3.1 years (range 1-11 years). There was only one case of late mortality and massive hemoptysis was the cause of death. Right ventricular morphology and severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) were the risk factors of postoperative death for patients with pulmonary stenosis(PS). There was no death case in patients who received Fontan procedure. In a follow-up, we found the grade of AVVR was reduced and the grade of heart function (New York Heart Association) was improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult patients with FSV can also undergo surgery. The mortality was acceptable and late results were satisfactory. After surgery, oxygen saturations increased, grades of AVVR decreased and the heart functions improved. Right ventricular morphology and severe AVVR were risk factors for patients with PS.

Initial Research on Postoperative Management of Tetralogy of Fallot with Major Aortopulmonary Collaterals

OBJECTIVES

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCA) is a well-known but always severe congenital heart disease. This study was designed to explore proper management after radical correction of TOF with MAPCA based on a hierarchical approach.

METHODS

The following data were collected from 39 patients planned to undergo radical correction of TOF: age, weight, number of aortopulmonary collaterals, total lumen diameter and collateral diameter-to-body weight ratio, transcatheter occlusion and cardiac catheterization findings, mechanical ventilation time, and ICU monitoring time. The patients were divided into 4 groups by collateral diameter-to-body weight ratio as follows: <0.200 mm/kg (group 1), 0.200-0.500 mm/kg (group 2), >0.500 mm/kg (group 3), and no MAPCA (group 4). Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software for Mac version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill., USA) with logistic regression and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Most of the patients recovered well after radical correction; postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients and included bloody sputum, low cardiac output syndrome, and severe pulmonary infection that led to tracheotomy. By prolonging the mechanical ventilation time of the patients with postoperative complications, the conditions in 3 patients were improved. However, in the remaining patients, the condition worsened until transcatheter occlusions were performed. Transcatheter occlusion was performed in all 7 patients in group 3 (100%). Only 2 of the 8 patients in group 2 required transcatheter occlusion (25%), and none of the 9 patients in group 1 required transcatheter occlusion (0%). Only 1 patient (group 3) died after radical correction. The transcatheter occlusion results showed a strong association with the total lumen diameter and the collateral diameter-to-body weight ratio (p < 0.05) but no obvious association with age, weight, or the number of aortopulmonary collaterals (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative management of patients with TOF and MAPCA has great significance. To reduce the morbidity and mortality, transcatheter coil embolization or surgical ligation should be performed in patients with a collateral diameter-to-body weight ratio of at least 0.500 mm/kg. In patients with values between approximately 0.200 and 0.500 mm/kg, prolongation of mechanical ventilation should have priority over transcatheter occlusion, and for patients with values below 0.200 mm/kg no additional treatment is needed.

The role of embolisation in ENT: an update

OBJECTIVE

To provide an update on the ever-increasing role that embolisation plays in the practice of otolaryngology.

METHOD

A literature search was performed during November 2008. The Medline, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched. This resulted in 285 papers relevant for review.

CONCLUSION

The role of embolisation has expanded greatly to include the management of refractory epistaxis, pre-operative preparation of vascular tumours, vascular injuries and as an adjunct in skull base surgery.