Echocardiography: conotruncal anomaly: a case of common arterial trunk with intact ventricular septum and hypoplastic left heart complex with unbalanced pulmonary stenoses

We describe the echocardiographic findings of a common arterial trunk with intact ventricular septum, mitral and left ventricular hypoplasia, atretic left ventricular outlet and bilateral, and unbalanced pulmonary artery stenoses.

Which Phenotypes Should We Include in the Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome?

The recent special issue of the World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery devoted to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and its related anomalies, contained significant information of great clinical relevance. Very little attention, however, was devoted to the integrity of ventricular septum as providing a criterion to distinguish between the phenotypes to be included within the syndrome, as opposed to the related anomalies. In this commentary, we summarize the evidence in support of the notion that the phenotypes to be included within the syndrome can be interpreted on the basis of an acquired disease of fetal life. We suggest that it is the integrity of the ventricular septum that provided the major criterion for the distinction between the lesions making up the syndrome and the related anomalies. The subsets of lesions to be included within the syndrome can then be recognized in terms of the time, subsequent to the closure of the embryonic interventricular communication, at which the left ventricle ceased its growth relative to the remainder of the cardiac components. On this basis, it is possible to recognize the combinations of aortic and mitral atresia, mitral stenosis with aortic atresia, combined mitral and aortic stenosis, and hypoplasia of the left ventricle with commensurate hypoplasia of the aortic and mitral valves; the latter combination now recognized as the hypoplastic left heart complex.

Hypoplastic Left Ventricle: Definition, Morphology, and Classification of the Cardiac Phenotypes

A prior manuscript provided information about hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and related malformations, including definitions, morphology, and classification, based on the 2021 International Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code (IPCCC) and the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This manuscript provides information about the related cardiac phenotypes associated with "hypoplastic left ventricle" that might be suitable for biventricular repair, including definitions, morphology, and classification of the cardiac phenotypes of the following four congenital cardiac malformations that can all include a hypoplastic left ventricle: (1) hypoplastic left heart complex (HLHC), (2) critical aortic stenosis with left ventricular hypoplasia, (3) aortic atresia + ventricular septal defect, and (4) hypoplastic left ventricle with severely unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect.

Fetal echocardiographic predictors of biventricular circulation in hypoplastic left heart complex

OBJECTIVES

To determine which echocardiographic features of hypoplastic left heart complex (HLHC) in the fetal period are predictive of biventricular (BV) circulation and to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with HLHC, including rates of mortality, reintervention and development of further cardiac disease.

METHODS

Echocardiograms of fetuses with HLHC obtained at 18-26 weeks and 27-36 weeks' gestation between 2004 and 2017 were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was successful BV circulation (Group 1). Group 2 included patients with single-ventricle palliation, death or transplant. Univariate analysis was performed on data obtained at 18-26 and 27-36 weeks and multivariate logistic regression was performed on data obtained at 27-36 weeks only.

RESULTS

Of the 51 included cases, 44 achieved successful BV circulation (Group 1) and seven did not (Group 2). Right-to-left/bidirectional foramen ovale (FO) flow and a higher mitral valve (MV) annulus Z-score were associated with successful BV circulation on both univariate and multivariate analysis. Bidirectional or left-to-right FO flow, left ventricular length (LVL) Z-score of < -2.4 and a MV Z-score of < -4.5 correctly predicted 80% of Group 2 cases. Late follow-up was available for 41 patients. There were two late deaths in Group 2. Thirteen patients in Group 1 required reintervention, 12 developed mitral stenosis and five developed isolated subaortic stenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

BV circulation is common in fetuses with HLHC. Higher MV annulus and LVL Z-scores and right to left direction of FO flow are important predictors of BV circulation. Long-term sequelae in those with BV circulation may include mitral and subaortic stenosis. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Case report: duct dependency in hypoplastic left heart complex can be reversible without surgery

We describe an infant with duct-dependent hypoplastic left heart complex with moderate hypoplasia of the left ventricle and aortic arch who was not operated due to resource limitations. The left-sided structures grew remarkably due to favourable loading condition changes of the left ventricle, allowing weaning from prostaglandin at the age of 3 months and discharging the patient without intervention.

Fifteen-year single center experience with the "Giessen Hybrid" approach for hypoplastic left heart and variants: current strategies and outcomes

Presented is a retrospective outcome study of a 15-year single institutional experience with a contemporary cohort of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and complex that underwent a "Giessen Hybrid" stage I as initial palliation. Hybrid approach consisting of surgical bilateral pulmonary artery banding and percutaneous duct stenting with or without atrial septum manipulation was developed from a rescue approach to a first-line procedure. Comprehensive Aristotle score defined pre-operative condition. Fifteen-year follow-up mortality is reported as occurring within the staged univentricular palliation or before and after biventricular repair. Hybrid stage I was performed in 154 patients; 107 should be treated by single ventricle palliation, 33 by biventricular repair (BVR), 7 received heart transplantation, and 7 were treated by comfort care, respectively. Overall 34 children died. The Aristotle score (mean value 18.2 ± 3) classified for univentricular circulations in newborns did not have statistical impact on the outcome. Two patients died during stage I (1.2%), and the interstage I mortality was 6.7%, and stage II mortality 9%, respectively. Stage III was up to now performed in 57 patients without mortality. At 1 year, the overall unadjusted survival of HLHS and variants was 84% and following BVR 89%, respectively. The Fifteen-year survival rate for HLHS and variants was 77%, with no significant impact of birth weight of less than 2.5 kg. In conclusion, Hybrid stage I fulfilled the criteria of life-saving approach. In our institution, Hybrid procedure replaced Norwood-staged palliation with a considerable mid- and long-term survival rate. Considering interstage mortality close surveillance is mandatory.

Chronic intermittent materno-fetal hyperoxygenation in late gestation may improve on hypoplastic cardiovascular structures associated with cardiac malformations in human fetuses

Hypoplasia of cardiovascular structures is a common finding in fetuses with cardiac malformations. Materno-fetal hyperoxygenation (HO) during late gestation promotes venous return to the fetal heart. This analysis in human fetuses sought to define whether this "loading" effect might improve hypoplastic cardiovascular dimensions. Fifteen late-gestation fetuses presented with varying degrees of hypoplastic cardiovascular structures. In these cases, chronic intermittent materno-fetal HO was administered during periods ranging from 8 to 33 days. Cardiac measurements were taken before and at the end of treatment and translated into Z-scores as well as plotted on normal growth charts. During the treatment period, chronic intermittent materno-fetal HO was associated with improved dimensions of >or=1 hypoplastic cardiovascular structures in most fetuses. However, in some cases, the effect of HO was neutralized or impaired by the presence of ventricular septal defects as well as obstructions to ventricular filling or emptying. Chronic intermittent materno-fetal HO near term may be associated with improvements of hypoplastic cardiovascular dimensions in fetuses with a spectrum of cardiac malformations. This effect may facilitate postnatal treatment and improve prognosis in suitable cases.