Repair of a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve by extensive leaflet shaving and commissuroplasty

The surgical repair of the bicuspid aortic valve in children has been shown to have good outcomes. The repair can be done by the delicate use of native valve tissue without using patch material. The patient is an 8-year-old boy diagnosed with a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve and supravalvular aortic stenosis. He had a balloon valvuloplasty when he was 6 years old. This video tutorial gives detailed information on how to repair the aortic valve by reshaping the aortic cusps and reconstructing the aortic commissures.

Unifocalization with pericardial roll technique in pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare both the pericardial roll technique with the patch augmentation technique of the unifocalization, and single-stage complete repair with the unifocalization and shunt for the repair of the ventricular septal defect, pulmonary atresia, and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of the 48 patients undergoing unifocalization of the ventricular septal defect, pulmonary atresia, and major aorticopulmonary collateral arteries from a single center. Our cohort had two surgical pathways, including single-stage midline unifocalization (n = 40), unifocalization after pulmonary artery rehabilitation by creating an aortopulmonary window or central shunt (n = 8). There were two surgical techniques in single-stage midline unifocalizaton, including widening of the pulmonary arteries with a patch (n = 30), and connecting pulmonary arteries with a pericardial roll (n = 10).

RESULTS

A total of 14 (29.2%) of 48 patients underwent single-stage complete repair, 26 patients underwent shunt palliation with unifocalization. Combined early and late mortality was seen in seven patients in those who underwent shunt palliation with unifocalization, while it was seen in one patient in those who underwent a single-stage complete repair (mortality ratio 26.8% vs. 7.1%, p = .22). There was no statistically significant difference between the pericardial roll and patch augmentation techniques in terms of pulmonary artery reintervention (p = .65). Although all pulmonary artery reinterventions were for unilateral pulmonary artery in the roll technique group, 41.7% of reinterventions were for bilateral pulmonary arteries in the pericardial augmentation group.

CONCLUSION

Single-stage complete repair of the ventricular septal defect, pulmonary atresia, and major aorticopulmonary collateral arteries has better results than unifocalization with a shunt. In terms of nonvaluable raw material, the use of the pericardial roll technique is a considerable alternative for unifocalization.

Comparison of Doty and McGoon techniques for surgical reconstruction of congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis

BACKGROUND

We aimed to compare the results of two surgical methods for the treatment of congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis.

METHODS

From May 2004 to January 2020, 29 patients underwent surgical repair for supravalvular aportic stenosis in a single centre. The perioperative evaluation of the patients was retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

Fifteen (51.7%) and 14 (48.2%) patients were treated with the Doty and the McGoon methods, respectively. The median age of our cohort was 4.5 (3.0-9.9) years. Ten (34.5%) patients had Williams-Beuren syndrome, and pulmonary stenosis was observed in 12 (41.3%) patients. The median follow-up time was 2.5 (0.7-7.3) years. On follow-up, five patients had residual stenosis with the McGoon technique and one with the Doty technique (p = 0.05). One patient died early in the post-operative period in the Doty group, and three patients were re-operated on due to restenosis in the McGoon group. Freedom from re-operation in the Doty group at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years was 100%. In the McGoon group, freedom from re-operation rates at the 1-, 3-, and 7-year follow-up were 100, 88.9, and 44.4%, respectively (p = 0.08).

CONCLUSION

Our results with both surgical techniques suggest that supravalvular aortic stenosis can be treated with good results. The Doty method provided better relief for the supravalvular aortic segment, considering the residual stenosis and the re-operation rates.

High incidence of fever in patients after biointegral pulmonic valved conduit implantation

OBJECTIVE

To describe our short- and medium-term outcomes using the BioIntegral pulmonic conduit.

METHODS

Between August 2018 and September 2019, the BioIntegral pulmonic valved conduit was used for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in 48 patients. The data were retrospectively retrieved from the patient charts.

RESULTS

The median age at surgery was 36 months (interquartile range [IQR] = 18-62 months). The diagnoses were pulmonary atresia-ventricular septal defect in 28 patients, absent pulmonary valve in four patients, truncus arteriosus in six patients, TGA-VSD-PS in five patients, conduit stenosis in three patients, and left venticular outflow tract obstruction requiring a Ross operation in two patients. In the postoperative short-term follow-up, 15 patients out of 48 had a high fever. Of these, 12 patients had concomitantly elevated C-reactive protein levels. There were no patients with blood culture positivity. The median postoperative length of hospital stay was 14 days (IQR = 8-21 days). The overall mortality was 4% in two patients, one died of right ventricular failure and multiple organ failure and one died of pulmonary embolism. The two patients who died were not among the 15 patients with fever. However, four patients with fever underwent balloon angioplasty for conduit restenosis in their medium-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

There was a high incidence of fever and adverse outcomes in the short-term postoperative follow-up of patients in whom the BioIntegral pulmonic valved conduit was implanted. Caution is advisable in using these conduits until there is convincing evidence about the sterilization and storage standards of these grafts.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair outcomes: Preoperative mitral regurgitation persists in the follow-up

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to present the midterm outcomes of surgical correction of the anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) with a focus on mitral regurgitation (MR).

METHODS

Medical records of 36 ALCAPA patients who underwent surgery in a single center were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

There were one (2.7%) neonate, 19 (52.7%) infants, 15 (41.6%) children, and 1 (2.7%) adult patient operated. Coronary reimplantation, tube reconstruction, and coronary artery bypass surgery techniques were performed in 29 (80.5%), 6 (16.6%), and 1 (2.7%) patient, respectively. Sixteen (44.4%) patients had a low ejection fraction and 13 (36.1%) patients had at least moderate MR preoperatively. None of our patients underwent a concomitant mitral surgery during the initial repair. Three and two patients died in the early and late postoperative period, respectively. Two patients underwent reoperation due to MR and pulmonary stenosis, separately. Preoperative MR was the only factor associated with at least moderate MR at the final follow-up (p < .01) and the presence of preoperative moderate or over-moderate MR estimated at least moderate MR at the final follow-up with 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity.

CONCLUSION

Although the mitral valve was not repaired in the first operation, the reoperation rate is low. However, a moderate or higher preoperative MR predicted MR at the last follow-up. Performing annuloplasty in such patients can be a strategy to be researched.

Two challenging translocation procedures for intramural coronary arteries in the setting of transposition of great arteries

Translocation of the coronary arteries remains a technical challenge in anatomic correction of transposition of great arteries. Myocardial ischemia related to the difficulties with coronary relocation is an important factor in perioperative and postoperative morbidity and mortality, particularly in the patients with complex coronary artery anatomy. Intramural coronary artery is a rare anatomic variety which may complicate the arterial switch operation in 2% to 4.6% of the reported cases. Even in the hands of experts, the mortality rate may be in twofold in this subset of patients compared with simple transposition of great artery procedures. In this report, 2 successful translocation techniques for intramural coronary arteries in the setting of arterial switch operation are described.

Supracoronary myotomy for myocardial bridges in the setting of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: off-pump experience

Myocardial bridges (MB) are rarely observed but well known pathology of the major epicardial coronary arteries which are embedded in the overlying myocardial tissue. It is most frequently found in young patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Myocardial bridges are associated with myocardial ischemia and infarction, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. The present case series report the outcomes of three symptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent myocardial muscle debridges. They were operated using beating heart technique without cardiopulmonary bypass. The authors conclude that off-pump supracoronary muscle myotomy is a feasible treatment modality in the young age group with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Intermediate-term results of Medtronic freestyle valve for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction in the Ross procedure

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

The Ross procedure has become the first choice for aortic valve replacement in children and young adults at many institutions. Since 1997, a lack of availability of homograft valves in Turkey has prompted the use of alternative substitutes for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction during the Ross procedure.

METHODS

Before April 2005, among 20 patients (age range: 14 months to 45 years) at the present authors' institution, the Ross procedure was performed in 14 and a Ross-Konno procedure in six. Sixteen patients underwent RVOT repair using alternative methods for homograft valve replacement. Fourteen patients received a Medtronic Freestyle valve and one patient a Medtronic Contegra bovine jugular vein conduit. An autologous RVOT repair was used in one patient. Ten of the Medtronic Freestyle valve patients were aged <16 years. In all patients who received a Medtronic Freestyle valve echocardiographic evaluations were conducted shortly after surgery and during follow up.

RESULTS

There was no early mortality. One patient died from pneumonia after six months, and another (asymptomatic) patient died suddenly at 34 months after surgery. Before hospital discharge the mean peak pressure gradient across the Freestyle valve was 12.1 +/- 11.0 mmHg, and this increased to 24.1 +/- 20.0 mmHg after a mean follow up of 51.2 +/- 6.9 months (range: 6 to 101 months) (p <0.002). Mild pulmonary regurgitation was seen in two patients. One asymptomatic adult patient was reoperated on at another center because of a 60-mmHg echocardiographic peak gradient at four years postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Although long-term follow up is required to explain the durability of the Medtronic Freestyle valve, the present results show that the valve can be used with intermediate-term success in the Ross procedure - and even in children as an alternative - if homograft valves are not available.

Ross-Konno procedure and ostial plasty in a child with homozygous hypercholesterolemia: case report

Although the Ross procedure is preferred for aortic valve replacement in young and female patients, there are no reported cases of hypercholesterolemic aortic pathology due to homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Long-term durability of the pulmonary autograft in patients with postoperative high blood cholesterol levels is of interest. A 14-year-old girl with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who underwent the Ross-Konno procedure and left coronary artery ostial plasty was followed for 57 months, with pulmonary autograft function, coronary arteries and lipid profile being monitored. There were no signs of narrowing, insufficiency or calcification of the pulmonary autograft; neither was there any narrowing in the left main coronary ostium. The patient's total cholesterol level was reduced from 897 to 262 mg/dl by use of anti-lipidemic medication and weekly lipid apheresis. Follow up data suggest that a pulmonary autograft may be preferable in children with hypercholesterolemic aortic valvular pathology, as well as in children with aortic valvular diseases of other etiologies.

Radiation-induced coronary artery disease

Radiation-induced heart disease must be considered in any patient with cardiac symptomatology who had prior mediastinal irradiation. Radiation can affect all the structures in the heart, including the pericardium, the myocardium, the valves and the conduction system. In addition to these pathologies, coronary artery disease following mediastinal radiotherapy is the most actual cardiac pathology as it may cause cardiac emergencies requiring interventional cardiological or surgical interventions. Case A 36-year-old man was admitted to the clinic with unstable angina pectoris of one month duration. The patient had no coronary artery disease risk factor. The history of the patient revealed that he had mediastinal radiotherapy due to Hodgkin's disease at 10-year of age. Coronary arteriography showed total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery and 70% stenosis of the proximal right coronary artery. Both arteries are dilated with placement of two stents. Control coronary arteriography at the end of the first year showed patency of both stents and the patient is free of symptoms. Previous radiotherapy to the mediastinum should be considered as a risk factor for the development of premature coronary artery disease. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stent placement or surgical revascularization are the preferred methods of treatment. Preoperative assessment of internal thoracic arteries should be considered prior to surgery. As the radiation therapy is currently the standard treatment for a number of mediastinal malignancies, routine screening of these patients and optimal cardiac prevention during radiotherapy are the only ways to minimize the incidence of radiation-induced heart disease.