Stephen C Brown1,2, Benedicte Eyskens1, Derize Boshoff1, Bjorn Cools1, Ruth Heying1, Filip Rega3, Bart Meyns3, Marc Gewillig4. 1. Fetal and Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 2. Pediatric Cardiology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 3. Congenital Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 4. Fetal and Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium marc.gewillig@uzleuven.be.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the outcome of a bailout procedure using the right ventricle to re-assist the left ventricle in neonates after technically adequate coarctectomy but a failing borderline left heart. METHODS: The surgical procedure was performed on bypass. A 'reversed' 6-mm surgical shunt was inserted between the pulmonary trunk and the descending aorta together with bilateral branch pulmonary artery banding. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period, 89 neonates presented with coarctation and small left hearts. In 9 neonates, a hybrid procedure was performed at the outset. The remaining 80 underwent extended end-to-end coarctectomy. Two of these, despite adequate coarctectomy, developed retrograde cardiac failure with supra-systemic pulmonary hypertension, dilating right ventricles and progressive cardiogenic shock. The progressively dilating right ventricles inhibited left ventricular filling. Reversed surgical shunts were performed at 9 and 7 days post-coarctectomy. Both infants recovered rapidly and could be extubated after 4 and 7 days, respectively. Patient 1 proceeded to a univentricular repair and Patient 2 to a biventricular repair. CONCLUSIONS: Reversed surgical shunt with bilateral banding of the branch pulmonary arteries after neonatal coarctectomy can be successfully employed as a bailout procedure in cases where a borderline left heart with growth potential cannot tolerate a biventricular circulation. It may act as an acute life-saving measure as well as a bridge to later repair. If high risk for backward failure exists in a borderline left heart with catch-up growth potential, a primary hybrid procedure is probably a more elegant and predictable strategy.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the outcome of a bailout procedure using the right ventricle to re-assist the left ventricle in neonates after technically adequate coarctectomy but a failing borderline left heart. METHODS: The surgical procedure was performed on bypass. A 'reversed' 6-mm surgical shunt was inserted between the pulmonary trunk and the descending aorta together with bilateral branch pulmonary artery banding. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period, 89 neonates presented with coarctation and small left hearts. In 9 neonates, a hybrid procedure was performed at the outset. The remaining 80 underwent extended end-to-end coarctectomy. Two of these, despite adequate coarctectomy, developed retrograde cardiac failure with supra-systemic pulmonary hypertension, dilating right ventricles and progressive cardiogenic shock. The progressively dilating right ventricles inhibited left ventricular filling. Reversed surgical shunts were performed at 9 and 7 days post-coarctectomy. Both infants recovered rapidly and could be extubated after 4 and 7 days, respectively. Patient 1 proceeded to a univentricular repair and Patient 2 to a biventricular repair. CONCLUSIONS: Reversed surgical shunt with bilateral banding of the branch pulmonary arteries after neonatal coarctectomy can be successfully employed as a bailout procedure in cases where a borderline left heart with growth potential cannot tolerate a biventricular circulation. It may act as an acute life-saving measure as well as a bridge to later repair. If high risk for backward failure exists in a borderline left heart with catch-up growth potential, a primary hybrid procedure is probably a more elegant and predictable strategy.
Authors: Robert A Cesnjevar; Frank Harig; Moritz Dietz; Muhannad Alkassar; Wolfgang Waellisch; André Rueffer; Sven Dittrich; Ariawan Purbojo Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 2021-01-04 Impact factor: 4.191