Rapid two-stage Starnes approach in high-risk neonates with Ebstein anomaly

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 2024 expert consensus document: Management of neonates and infants with Ebstein anomaly

OBJECTIVES

Symptomatic neonates and infants with Ebstein anomaly (EA) require complex management. A group of experts was commissioned by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery to provide a framework on this topic focusing on risk stratification and management.

METHODS

The EA Clinical Congenital Practice Standards Committee is a multinational and multidisciplinary group of surgeons and cardiologists with expertise in EA. A citation search in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed using key words related to EA. The search was restricted to the English language and the year 2000 or later and yielded 455 results, of which 71 were related to neonates and infants. Expert consensus statements with class of recommendation and level of evidence were developed using a modified Delphi method, requiring 80% of members votes with at least 75% agreement on each statement.

RESULTS

When evaluating fetuses with EA, those with severe cardiomegaly, retrograde or bidirectional shunt at the ductal level, pulmonary valve atresia, circular shunt, left ventricular dysfunction, or fetal hydrops should be considered high risk for intrauterine demise and postnatal morbidity and mortality. Neonates with EA and severe cardiomegaly, prematurity (<32 weeks), intrauterine growth restriction, pulmonary valve atresia, circular shunt, left ventricular dysfunction, or cardiogenic shock should be considered high risk for morbidity and mortality. Hemodynamically unstable neonates with a circular shunt should have emergent interruption of the circular shunt. Neonates in refractory cardiogenic shock may be palliated with the Starnes procedure. Children may be assessed for later biventricular repair after the Starnes procedure. Neonates without high-risk features of EA may be monitored for spontaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Hemodynamically stable neonates with significant pulmonary regurgitation at risk for circular shunt with normal right ventricular systolic pressure should have an attempt at medical closure of the PDA. A medical trial of PDA closure in neonates with functional pulmonary atresia and normal right ventricular systolic pressure (>20-25 mm Hg) should be performed. Neonates who are hemodynamically stable without pulmonary regurgitation but inadequate antegrade pulmonary blood flow may be considered for a PDA stent or systemic to pulmonary artery shunt.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk stratification is essential in neonates and infants with EA. Palliative comfort care may be reasonable in neonates with associated risk factors that may include prematurity, genetic syndromes, other major medical comorbidities, ventricular dysfunction, or sepsis. Neonates who are unstable with a circular shunt should have emergent interruption of the circular shunt. Neonates who are unstable are most commonly palliated with the Starnes procedure. Neonates who are stable should undergo ductal closure. Neonates who are stable with inadequate pulmonary flow may have ductal stenting or a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt. Subsequent procedures after Starnes palliation include either single-ventricle palliation or biventricular repair strategies.

Tricuspid valve septal displacement cutoff value for mortality risk following biventricular repair in Ebstein anomaly

Background

Surgical intervention is the definitive treatment for Ebstein anomaly, offering both biventricular and nonbiventricular repair options. The objective of this study is to identify a specific cutoff value for tricuspid septal leaflet displacement, which will be a crucial factor in determining the selection of a surgical approach with lower mortality risk in biventricular repair.

Methods and Results

This is a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with Ebstein anomaly undergoing surgical intervention at the National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita from January 2010 to December 2023. A total of 83 patients with Ebstein anomaly were treated surgically; 43 of those underwent biventricular repair, whereas the remaining underwent nonbiventricular repair. Echocardiography was performed, and the Great Ormond Street Echocardiography score was calculated. Several risk factors were identified and stratified for patients with biventricular repair (n = 43). Tricuspid septal leaflet displacement was measured for each patient, and there was a statistically significant higher mortality risk directly proportional to higher displacement in patients with biventricular repair (P < 0.05). A cutoff value of 43.5 mm/m² for the tricuspid septal leaflet displacement is the best predictor of mortality risk in biventricular repair with 83.3% sensitivity and 93.3% specificity.

Conclusions

In patients with Ebstein anomaly undergoing a biventricular repair, mortality rates are significantly elevated in patients with a higher tricuspid septal leaflet displacement distance. The results of the study indicated that the mortality risk in biventricular repair can be predicted based on the tricuspid septal leaflet displacement distance using a cutoff value of 43.5 mm/m².