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We used a suture-and-open technique with a biatrial incision for primary sutureless repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). With this technique, the common pulmonary venous sinus and its branching pulmonary veins are opened after completion of suturing of the left atrial incision to the pericardium around the common pulmonary venous sinus and its branching veins. The technique allows the primary sutureless repair of TAPVC to be done in a less bloody field under full-flow cardiopulmonary bypass. We have performed this technique in our recent 5 consecutive TAPVC patients without significant complications.

Objectives Postoperative left pulmonary artery (LPA) kinking is problematic in repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We used angioplasty of the proximal LPA with an anterior wall flap of the main pulmonary artery (MPA) to prevent this problem. Methods We have used an anterior wall of the MPA as a flap for LPA angioplasty in 42 patients with TOF and pulmonary stenosis (26 males and 16 females) since February 2007. During the same period, 116 patients underwent total repair of TOF with pulmonary stenosis. The median age was 7.1 months (range, 3-88.8), and the median weight was 8.4 kg (range, 5-27). The indications for LPA angioplasty were acute-angle proximal LPA in 17 (40.5%), proximal LPA stenosis in 6 (14.3%), acute-angle and stenotic proximal LPA in 18 (43%), and short and small distal MPA in 1 patient. The patches used for MPA and LPA reconstruction were glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium in 34 and bovine pericardium in 8 patients. Results No operative or late death occurred. The mean follow-up duration after surgery was 26.4 ± 18.6 months (range, 0.5-67). During the follow-up period, reoperation for LPA stenosis or kinking was not required in any patient; however, balloon angioplasty was performed with good results in 4 patients (9.5%). No postoperative kinking of the proximal LPA occurred. Echocardiography or computed tomography angiography at the recent follow-up visit demonstrated good branch pulmonary arteries in all patients. Conclusions Angioplasty of the proximal LPA using an anterior wall flap of the MPA in the patients with TOF and pulmonary stenosis is an effective method in the management of acute angle and/or stenosis of LPA without postoperative kinking.

Background Airway compression caused by an enlarged right pulmonary artery (RPA) in patients with a large shunt can usually be managed with intracardiac repair and concomitant anterior aortopexy. However, anterior aortopexy can be less effective or even dangerous in patients with coexisting arch anomaly due to excessive tension at the arch repair site. We have adopted anterior translocation of RPA without aortic transection in the group of patients with a high risk of postoperative airway compression. We reviewed the early and midterm results of this technique. Methods From February 2006 to January 2013, 8 patients underwent RPA anterior translocation as a concomitant procedure in one-stage repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and aortic arch anomaly to avoid postoperative airway problems. The enlarged RPA was disconnected from the main pulmonary artery (MPA) at its origin and was relocated anterior to the ascending aorta, and subsequently reimplanted to the U-shaped trapdoor incision at the anterolateral MPA wall. The mean age at operation was 34 days (median, 14 days, 6 to 77 days), and the mean body weight was 3.6 kg (2.15 to 5.5 kg). All patients had coarctation of the aorta and VSD except 1 who had aortic arch interruption. Five patients were dependent on a ventilator preoperatively. Six patients had evidence of preoperative bronchial compression (left; 4, right and left; 2), and 2 had a high probability of postoperative bronchial compression due to unusual anterior location of the descending aorta. Results There was no early or late death. There were no postoperative airway problems such as reintubation or left lung atelectasis. Widely patent RPA was confirmed on postoperative computed tomographic angiography in all patients. The mean follow-up duration was 54.0 ± 17.1 months. One patient required balloon angioplasty for mild stenosis at the clamping site 3 years after the operation. All patients had no RPA stenosis at the latest follow-up evaluation. Conclusions Anterior translocation of the RPA as a concomitant procedure in one-stage repair of VSD and arch anomaly is a safe and effective procedure to avoid postoperative airway problems in high-risk patients.

Background Accurate coronary reimplantation is the most important component in the arterial switch operation. It is especially demanding for the less experienced surgeons. We compared the result of the technique of coronary reimplantation after neoaortic reconstruction with that of the open trap door technique. Methods From March 1994 to June 2004, 103 consecutive patients underwent the arterial switch operation by one surgeon. Patients who underwent coronary artery transfer with other modified techniques were excluded. Diagnoses of 94 patients were transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (n = 50), transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect (n = 26), and the Taussig-Bing anomaly (n = 18). An aortic arch anomaly was present in 13 patients. The median age of the patients was 12 days and the mean body weight was 3.5 kg. Coronary reimplantation after neoaortic reconstruction was applied to 34 patients (group I), and the open trap door technique was applied to the rest (group II). Results Preoperative data were similar in both groups. Four patients in group II required intraoperative revision of a transferred coronary artery, and 1 patient with an intramural left coronary artery in group I had a conversion to free grafting using the left subclavian artery. Overall early mortality was 17.0% (16 of 94). Mortality in group I (1 of 34; 2.9%) was significantly lower than in group II (15 of 60; 25.0%) ( p = 0.008). The leading cause of death in group II was low cardiac output (n = 9). During the follow-up, an aortic regurgitation of greater than mild was detected in 2 patients in group II. Conclusions Coronary reimplantation after neoaoartic reconstruction is an attractive method to minimize coronary artery transfer-related mortality or morbidity.

Background The reimplantation of the coronary arteries from a single aortic sinus (single sinus coronary artery) in an arterial switch operation remains a technically challenging procedure. The technique of coronary transfer in this situation should be individualized depending on coronary ostial anatomy. We reviewed our techniques of coronary reimplantation with early and midterm results. Methods Among 103 patients who underwent arterial switch operations from March 1994 to June 2004, 16 (15.5%) had single sinus coronary artery (median age, 9 days; mean body weight, 3.5 kg). Fourteen patients (14/16, 87.5%) had coronary arteries from right facing sinus (sinus 2). Of these 14 patients, 11 had separate ostia including intramural course of the left coronary artery (n = 9) and 3 had single ostium. Two patients (2/16, 12.5%) had coronary arteries from left facing sinus (sinus 1) with single ostium. Aortic arch obstruction was associated in 5 patients. Results All 5 single sinus coronary arteries with single ostium were reimplanted with the trap-door technique. Of the 11 patients with separate ostia, 8 underwent coronary transfer with the aortocoronary flap technique and 3 with the double-button technique. Two of the 3 patients who underwent the double-button technique required left coronary artery bypass using left subclavian artery free graft as the salvaging procedure. There was one early death (1/16, 6.3%), which occurred during our earlier experience, in a patient who had arch anomaly and intramural left coronary artery. There was no late death. All but one patient had good ventricular function. Conclusions All single sinus coronary artery with single ostium can be transferred with the trap-door technique with excellent results. The aortocoronary flap technique in those with separate ostia with or without intramural left coronary artery may be a good option. However, reimplantation of the intramural left coronary artery using separate coronary buttons should be performed with great care.

Airway compression by dilated right pulmonary artery (RPA) in infants with congenital heart disease can cause severe respiratory insufficiency and increase postoperative morbidity. Anterior aortopexy can be a good solution. However, in a case in which aortic arch repair is required, anterior aortopexy might not be effective or can be dangerous. Anterior translocation of the RPA can be a good option to avoid postoperative airway obstruction. We adopted this technique in a one-stage complete repair of distal aortopulmonary window, aortic origin of the RPA, interrupted aortic arch, and ventricular septal defect in a neonate with compression of both main bronchi. After 37 months of follow-up, no problem was encountered with her airway or RPA. We describe the technique used and the results obtained.

Objectives We evaluated our clinical experiences on rehabilitation of native pulmonary arteries (PAs) with a central shunt using an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tube graft in management of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) with diminutive PAs. Methods From March 1993 to June 2013, a total of 28 consecutive patients underwent surgery for pulmonary atresia with VSD and MAPCAs. We identified 15 patients who underwent a central shunt procedure using an ePTFE tube graft. Median age and weight at the initial operation were 1.91 months and 5.22 kg, respectively. Ligation of MAPCAs was performed in 3 patients concomitantly. The techniques used were a U-shaped central shunt in 13 patients, and a side-to-side aorto-ePTFE tube graft anastomosis in 2 patients. Results There was no surgical mortality, and no shunt occlusion. The mean follow-up duration was 70.7 ± 67.1 months. Complete repair was achieved in 13 patients (13 of 14 of the follow-up patients; 92.9%), and the remaining patient is waiting for complete repair. The median age at complete repair was 19.4 months. The mean PA index before the initial central shunt procedure was 22.7 ± 13.2 mm 2 /m 2 , which increased to 149.4 ± 86.6 mm 2 /m 2 at the final recordings before shunt division, and 185.9 ± 84.0 mm 2 /m 2 before complete repair. There were 2 late mortality cases. The overall survival rates were 92.9%, 82.5%, and 82.5%, at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Conclusions A central shunt, using an ePTFE tube graft, is an effective initial palliative procedure for rehabilitation of the diminutive PAs in patients with pulmonary atresia with VSD and MAPCAs.