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We herein report two cases of progressive left ventricular outflow obstruction after primary repair of arch obstruction and ventricular septal defect that was successfully resolved with Yasui conversion. Patients who require surgical reintervention for progressive left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction after primary biventricular repair of interruption of the aortic arch or coarctation of the aorta complex are occasionally experienced. The modified Konno procedure and Ross operation are well recognized as useful for these cases. However, in some patients, these procedures are difficult to perform because of anatomic restrictions or previous procedures. Although the indications are limited, the Yasui conversion is a safe, simple, and useful option for LVOT obstruction after primary biventricular repair.

New-onset systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral valve leaflet in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a rare pathophysiologic mechanism leading to postprocedural development of mitral regurgitation and, eventually, left ventricular outflow obstruction. We report the first human case of successful MitraClip implantation to treat new-onset systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve after transcatheter aortic valve replacement causing severe obstruction to left ventricular outflow that was unresponsive to standard medical therapy.

The management of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and associated lesions is frequently challenging. Restrictive ventricular septal defect and mild pulmonary stenosis are contraindications to the double switch procedure, including the atrial-Rastelli switch procedure, due to the production of postoperative left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We describe a case of aortic translocation using the hemi-Mustard procedure after left ventricular training in order to prevent postoperative left ventricular outflow obstruction.

We describe the treatment of a 16-year-old girl with calcific aortic stenosis, porcelain aorta, and calcific mitral stenosis with insufficiency using a valved apicoaortic conduit and mitral valve prosthesis. Both valve replacements were porcine bioprostheses, and the apicoaortic conduit was implanted without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. In cases in which the degree of aortic calcification pre-empts manipulation of the coronary ostia, an apicoaortic conduit may offer a viable solution to improve left ventricular outflow obstruction.

The decision between a single-ventricle and biventricular strategy can be particularly difficult in patients with critical left ventricular outflow obstruction who have marginal left ventricular size or function. Overzealous pursuit of a biventricular strategy in borderline cases can lead to death or require conversion to a single-ventricle physiology at increased risk. We describe novel use of the hybrid approach as a bailout option for a patient with critical aortic stenosis who, despite balloon valvuloplasty, exhibited persistent severe left ventricular dysfunction. This approach provides a simple and effective pathway to treat patients with a failed biventricular circulation, at a considerably lower risk, while keeping all therapeutic options open.

We report a case of severe systolic anterior motion (SAM) and dynamic left ventricular outflow obstruction after repair of a flail posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The reason for SAM was found to be due to traction on the pericardial stay sutures placed to expose the surgical field. The SAM and the outflow obstruction were completely resolved by cutting these sutures. Our case demonstrates the contribution of geometric factors in the development of SAM and left ventricular outflow obstruction and emphasizes the need to evaluate the heart in its natural position within the mediastinum.

Left ventricular outflow obstruction may result from preserving the anterior leaflet after mitral valve replacement. A 79-year-old woman, who had a mitral valve replacement with the native mitral leaflets left intact 16 years before, was admitted to our hospital with severe dyspnea due to heart failure. Echocardiography showed systolic anterior motion of preserved anterior mitral leaflet, and continuous wave Doppler detected severe left ventricular outflow tract jets during systole without mitral chordal rupture. Surgical incising of the anterior mitral leaflet through the aortic root relieved the obstruction without removing the prosthetic mitral valve.

In the 1950s, Sealy and his co-workers developed an improved technique for inducing cardiac and total body hypothermia using a pump oxygenator and heat exchanger. These techniques have been gradually adopted, and now markedly facilitate the repair of some congenital cardiac malformations presenting in infancy. In this paper, I discuss two forms of congenital cardiac lesions: an interrupted aortic arch and critical aortic stenosis. For both of these congenital malformations, operation in infancy using closed techniques has resulted in a very poor outcome. Using cardiopulmonary bypass, induced hypothermia, and circulatory arrest, accurate arch repair and aortic valvotomy can be performed together with repair of associated lesions. Improved results can be expected from the use of the more precise repair techniques afforded by a dry and bloodless field.

A new technique is described for relief of diffuse obstruction in the left ventricular outflow tract without aortic valve replacement. Left ventricular septoplasty was performed, preserving the aortic valve. The supravalve stenosis was repaired using a Y-shaped extension of the aortotomy proximally and a pantaloon-shaped patch of woven Dacron fabric. A 10-year-old girl with “tunnel” or diffuse stenosis obtained striking relief of left ventricular hypertension by this technique.

without a significant ventricular septal defect (VSD) or fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The presence of these two additional abnormalities can be treated successfully by a ventricular repair. Transposition with a large VSD in the absence of left ventricular obstruction has been the most challenging subgroup for surgical treatment and has been associated with disappointing early mortality and late results. The report by Williams and coauthors (this issue, p 8) indicates that arterial repair should be considered an acceptable alternative approach for patients in this difficult subgroup, as well as for patients with other associated abnormalities such as tricuspid atresia or subpulmonic VSD. This article with its published discussion, the approach described in 1980 by Yacoub and colleagues [51, and the forthcoming presentation by Jatene and associates [6] have stimulated this additional editorial discussion of the current status of arterial repair of transposition. Williams and co-workers have performed arterial repair in patients with complex transposition with systemic left ventricular pressure and no left ventricular outflow obstruction. Among their