Midterm results after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: a single centre experience

Impact of Coronary Artery Anatomy in Arterial Switch Operation: In-hospital and Post-discharge Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The influence of the coronary artery anatomy on the prognosis of patients receiving an arterial switch operation (ASO) is currently controversial, and the risk factors for this operation may change in more complicated patients. This study aimed to investigate the influence of coronary artery anomalies on the in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes of ASO in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and Taussig-Bing anomaly (TBA).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 206 patients who underwent ASO from January 2007 to December 2019. The median age at operation was 33 [interquartile range (IQR): 20-71] days. Median follow-up time was 7.2 years (IQR: 4.0-10.3 years).

RESULTS

Coronary anomalies were present in 86 patients (41.7%), with 9 (4.4%) of them having a single coronary artery. Additional coronary features included intramural courses in 5 (2.4%) patients, ostial stenosis in 1 (0.5%) patient, and accessory coronary artery orifices in 5 (2.4%) patients. There were 32 (15.5%) in-hospital deaths and 8 (4.6%) post-discharge deaths, yielding an overall survival of 81.3%, 80.7% and 79.9% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Mortality due to ASO has been drastically decreased since 2013. Patients with a single coronary artery had higher rate of in-hospital mortality, but this finding was not statistically significant. The earlier surgical era (OR: 2.756) and a longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR: 2.336) were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality, while coronary patterns were not. An intramural coronary artery (HR: 10.034) and a patient age of older than 1 year at the time of ASO (HR: 9.706) were independent predictors of post-discharge mortality.

CONCLUSION

ASO remains the procedure of choice for TGA with coronary anomalies with acceptable in-hospital and post-discharge outcomes in terms of overall survival and freedom of reoperation. However, intramural coronary artery is an independent risk factor for post-discharge mortality. Timely surgery within the 1st year of life helps improve overall midterm survival of ASO.

Outcomes after corrective surgery for congenital dextro-transposition of the arteries using the arterial switch technique: a scoping systematic review

BACKGROUND

Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) is the most frequent cyanotic congenital heart pathology in neonates. Surgical correction of this condition is possible using the arterial switch operation (ASO) which was first performed by Jatene in 1975.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to summarise the evidence on short- (less than 1 year), medium- (1-20 years), and long-term (more than 20 years) outcomes of children with D-TGA treated with the ASO. The primary outcome was survival. Secondary outcomes were freedom from cardiac reoperations, occurrence of aortic insufficiency, pulmonary stenosis, coronary artery anomalies, neuropsychological development problems and quality of life.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, and reference lists of included articles for studies reporting outcomes after ASO for D-TGA. Screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were done independently by two reviewers. We pooled data using a random-effects meta-analysis of proportions and, where not possible, outcomes were synthesized narratively. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

Following ASO for TGA, short-term survival was 92.0% (95% CI 91.0-93.0%; I² = 85.8%, 151 studies, 30,186 participants; moderate certainty evidence). Medium-term survival was 90.0% (95% CI 89.0-91.0%; I² = 84.3%, 133 studies; 23,686 participants, moderate certainty evidence), while long-term survival was 87.0% (95% CI 80.0-92.0 %; I² = 84.5%, 4 studies, 933 participants, very low certainty evidence). Evaluation of the different secondary outcomes also showed satisfactory results in the short, medium and long term. Subgroup analysis suggests slightly higher survival following ASO for TGA in the second surgical era (1998 to 2018) than in the first surgical era (1975 to 1997) in the short and medium term [93.0% (95% CI 92.0-94.0) vs 90.0% (95% CI 89.0-92.0) and 93.0% (95% CI 91.0-94.0) vs 88.0% (87.0-90.0%) respectively] but not in the long term [81.0% (95% CI 76.0-86.0%) vs 89.0% (80.0-95.0%)].

CONCLUSIONS

Pooled data from many sources suggests that the ASO for D-TGA leads to high rates of survival in the short, medium, and long term.

Outcome of arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries. A 35-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Arterial switch operation (ASO) is today the first-choice surgical treatment for patients with transposition of the great arteries. Long-term outcome data still remain scarce. Moreover, the course of these patients is not uneventful. Therefore, we wanted to evaluate long-term outcome and determine on which variables to focus during follow-up.

METHODS

Clinical records of 318 patients who underwent ASO between October 1981 and July 2018 were reviewed. Perioperative, post-operative, and interventional data were collected to determine mortality and the need for re-intervention. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up time was 11.1 SD 8.5 years (range 0-35) with a mean age of 12.5 SD 9.0 years (range 0-37) at latest follow-up. In-hospital mortality was 7.5% and overall survival 90.9% for a maximum follow-up time of 35 years. Causes of early mortality were cardiogenic shock, severe pulmonary hypertension, septic shock and multiple organ failure. Causes of late mortality were cardiogenic shock, severe pulmonary hypertension, pacemaker lead fracture and fire death. Re-intervention free survival at 5-year was 91.6%, at 10-year 90.7%, at 20-year 79.2%. For all survivors, the most frequent sequelae after ASO were pulmonary artery stenosis (80.9%), of which 13.5% needed an intervention. The threshold for intervening on lesions at the level of the pulmonary artery bifurcation was higher and the percutaneous re-intervention rate was higher for non-bifurcation lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a relatively high peri-operative mortality, TGA patients have an excellent overall long-term survival. However, a large proportion of patients requires re-interventions, mainly for pulmonary artery stenosis.

Is the Lecompte technique the last word on transposition of the great arteries repair for all patients? A magnetic resonance imaging study including a spiral technique two decades postoperatively

OBJECTIVES

To compare the Lecompte technique and the spiral anastomosis (complete anatomic correction) two decades after arterial switch operation (ASO).

METHODS

Nine patients after primary ASO with Lecompte and 6 selected patients after spiral anastomosis were evaluated 20.8 ± 2.1 years after ASO versus matched controls. Blood flow dynamics and flow profiles (e.g. vorticity, helicity) in the great arteries were quantified from time-resolved 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phase contrast flow measurements (4D flow MR) in addition to a comprehensive anatomical and functional cardiovascular MRI analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with spiral reconstruction, patients with Lecompte showed more vortex formation, supranatural helical blood flow (relative helicity in aorta: 0.036 vs 0.089; P < 0.01), a reduced indexed cross-sectional area of the left pulmonary artery (155 vs 85 mm²/m²; P < 0.001) and more semilunar valve dysfunctions (n = 5 vs 1). There was no difference in elastic aortic wall properties, ventricular function, myocardial perfusion and myocardial fibrosis between the two groups. Cross-sectional area of the aortic sinus was larger in patients than in controls (669 vs 411 mm²/m²; P < 0.01). In the spiral group, the pulmonary root was rotated after ASO more towards the normal left position (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, selected patients with spiral anastomoses showed, two decades after ASO, better physiologically adapted blood flow dynamics, and attained a closer to normal anatomical position of their great arteries, as well as less valve dysfunction. Considering the limitations related to the small number of patients and the novel MRI imaging techniques, these data may provoke reconsidering the optimal surgical approaches to transposition of the great arteries repair.

Current expectations of the arterial switch operation in a small volume center: a 20-year, single-center experience

Background

We reviewed our 20-year experience with arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) or double outlet right ventricle with subpulmonary ventricular septal defect (Taussig-Bing anomaly) to assess the early and long-term outcomes.

Methods

Between January 1995 and December 2014, 139 consecutive patients who underwent ASO for TGA or Taussig-Bing anomaly were included in this retrospective study. The median age at the operation was 9 (0–485) days, and 97 patients (70 %) underwent ASO less than 2 weeks. The median weight was 3.3 (2.1-10.3) kg. The patients were divided into three groups; simple TGA (n = 78) included patients with TGA with intact ventricular septum, complex TGA (n = 46) included those who had TGA with ventricular septal defect or other anomalies, and Taussig-Bing anomaly (n = 15). Median follow-up duration was 72.5 (0.4-230) months.

Results

There were 3(2.2 %) in-hospital deaths. One patient (0.7 %) underwent early reoperation due to coronary insufficiency. Late deaths occurred in 3 (2.2 %) of 136 survivors. The Kaplan-Meier’s survival rate was 97.6 ± 1.4 % at 15 years. Twenty-three patients (16.9 %) required 26 reintervention. The freedom from reintervention rates were 82.5 ± 3.7 % at 5 years and 75.8 ± 4.7 % at 10 years, respectively. Median interval between ASO and first reintervention was 22.8 (6.4-89.2) months. The multivariate analysis showed that diagnosis of Taussig-Bing anomaly (hazard ratio, 7.09; P < 0.001) and side by side great artery relationship (hazard ratio, 7.98; P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for reoperation. Five patients (3.9 %) had developed at least moderate neo-aortic regurgitation during the follow-up and one patient underwent reoperation mainly for neo-aortic regurgitation. By multivariate analysis, Taussig-Bing anomaly was the risk factor for at least moderate neo-aortic regurgitation (P = 0.035).

Conclusions

ASO can be performed with a low risk of early mortality and satisfactory long-term outcomes even in a small volume center. Close long-term surveillance is mandatory to detect structural or hemodynamic changes.

Coronary artery problems late after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries

BACKGROUND

The incidence of late coronary artery abnormalities after arterial switch operation (ASO) for d-loop transposition of the great arteries may be underestimated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We retrospectively reviewed coronary artery morphology in 40 of 97 patients who survived the first year after ASO. Seven asymptomatic patients developed significant late coronary artery abnormalities. One patient died suddenly at home with severe left coronary artery (LCA) ostial stenosis at age 3.8 years. The second patient collapsed during exercise at age 9.6 years due to ventricular fibrillation and severe LCA ostial stenosis despite prior negative exercise stress test (EST) and myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). The third patient was found to have moderate ostial stenosis of the LCA with negative EST and MPI. The fourth patient with exercise-induced ST-T depression and myocardial perfusion defect was shown to have complete LCA occlusion with collateral vessel formation. Three other patients had complete proximal obliteration of either of the coronary arteries with collateral supply. An additional 4 asymptomatic patients had trivial-mild narrowing of the LCA on routine selective coronary angiogram.

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence of late coronary stenosis or occlusion was not infrequent after ASO (11.3%) and presented usually without preceding symptoms and often after negative non-invasive screening. We advocate routine coronary imaging in all patients after ASO before they participate in competitive sports.

Early and mid-term results of the arterial switch operation in patients with intramural coronary artery

Intramural coronary artery is known to be a risk factor for early death after an arterial switch operation (ASO). We evaluated the early and mid-term results of ASO for patients with intramural coronary artery. From September 2008 to March 2012, seven patients with an intramural coronary artery underwent ASO at our hospital. The mean age at operation was 2.4 months (2 days-1 year), and the mean body weight was 4.3 ± 2.2 kg. The mean follow-up was 35.3 ± 16.5 months (22-63 months). The individual coronary button technique was used in seven patients. The intramural segment was unroofed in one patient; in one patient with myocardial ischemia, the intramural segment was unroofed and enlarged using a patch of autologous pericardium. There was one operative death because of low cardiac output syndrome (14.2% mortality). In the same time period at our hospital, three deaths were reported in 68 ASO patients (4.4% mortality) without an intramural coronary artery. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). There were no late deaths, and no patients required a coronary intervention. Intramural coronary artery is a well-known risk factor for early death after ASO. To optimize results, the coronary transfer technique should be tailored to each patient's particular anatomy. Intraoperative or postoperative myocardial ischemia should be addressed aggressively by immediately reimplanting the coronary artery. Unroofing the intramural segment, even the distal portion, should restore normal coronary blood flow.

Outcomes after corrective surgery for congenital dextro-transposition of the great arteries using the arterial switch technique: a protocol for a scoping systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) is a life-threatening congenital health defect that requires rapid surgery. The most widely used approach is the arterial switch operation (ASO) developed by Jatene in the 1970s. The first set of children who received this intervention are now adults. The objective of this scoping review of the literature was to document the short-term (less than 1 year), medium-term (1-20 years) and long-term (more than 20 years) outcomes in children who underwent the ASO. Our primary income is survival, but we will explore other secondary surgical, cardiovascular, reproductive and quality-of-life outcomes.

METHODS AND ANALYSES

Using a systematic scoping review approach, we will conduct a systematic search of the published literature for experimental and observational studies published on children who received the ASO intervention for classic d-TGA. We will search MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Literatura Latino Americana em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) from 1973 (date of the first successful ASO) to February 2014. Identified articles will be screened in duplicate and full text for selected articles will be retrieved. Data extraction will be carried out in duplicate. Discrepancies will be resolved by consensus or by consulting a third author. Where possible, proportions will be pooled using the inverse variance method. Our findings will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis Of Observational studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The results of this paper will be disseminated as peer-reviewed publications, at conferences and at clinical rounds. Our findings may answer important questions for surgeons who perform the ASO intervention and for clinicians who take care of patients after surgery and throughout their lifespans.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Prospero/CRD42014007590.