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The management of pulmonary atresia with a ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD) depends on the anatomy of the pulmonary artery or on the surgical strategy used at individual institutions. In our institution, we adopted a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) shunt in 2011 as a palliative procedure for PA/VSD to overcome the disadvantages of a Blalock-Taussig shunt. We evaluated the results of the RV-PA shunt as initial palliative surgery for PA/VSD. Thirteen patients with ductus-dependent PA/VSD from August 2011 to August 2015 were enrolled. The mean age at surgery was 17.9 ± 15.3 (range 5-60) days, and the mean body weight was 2.9 ± 0.6 (range 2.2-4.0) kg. A Gore-Tex tube graft was used in all patients. We retrospectively observed intra- and postoperative complications, early and late mortality, and palliation duration to definitive repair. Left pulmonary artery angioplasty was performed as a concomitant procedure in three patients. There were no early hospital mortalities, although two inter-stage deaths occurred 34 and 47 days postoperatively: one patient died of aspiration and the other of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pseudoaneurysm rupture. Two patients (15.4%) required the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support postoperatively: one because of failure to wean from a bypass caused by persistent hypoxemia and the other because of sudden massive bleeding from the RVOT suture line in the intensive care unit 2 days postoperatively. These two patients underwent second-stage definitive repair successfully. Five patients (41.7%) required catheter intervention, for juxtaductal left pulmonary artery stenosis in three patients, right pulmonary artery stenosis in one, and shunt inflow stenosis in one. Two patients (15.4%) required re-operation because of shunt inflow stenosis and RVOT pseudoaneurysm, respectively. All patients who survived the RV-PA shunt underwent total correction at a mean interval of 13.1 months. A RV-PA shunt is an option for the initial palliation of ductus-dependent PA/VSD. Major complications can occur, including RVOT pseudoaneurysm, shunt inflow stenosis, persistent hypoxemia during the immediate postoperative period, and dehiscence of the shunt anastomosis site. Caution should be taken when performing the RV-PA shunt for palliation of PA/VSD.

A patient with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries without an intrapericardial pulmonary artery (PA) underwent a one-stage total correction, including both branch PA reconstructions, with a bovine pericardial roll at the age of 42 months. She was readmitted 54 months after the operation because of extracardiac conduit bacterial endocarditis and pulmonary infarction. The bovine pericardial roll between the right and left PAs was enucleated, and the surrounding fibrotic tissue (peel) was used as a new branch PA vascular conduit. A cardiac catheterization performed 86 months after the peel operation showed no aneurysmal dilatation, stenosis, or thrombotic occlusion., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

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., (Copyright © 2015 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim To Read: We report the results of a bicuspid expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) valved conduit used for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (RVOTR).Methods: Between November 2005 and February 2009, 12 conduits were used for RVOTR. The mean age and weight of patients were 43.5 ± 46.4 months and 13.4 ± 8.6 kg. The main diagnosis was tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia in eight patients. The most common conduit size was 18 mm. The mean follow-up was 88.0 ± 35.9 months.Results: There were no operative and late mortalities. At discharge, the mean peak systolic pressure gradient across the RVOT was 14.1 ± 11.3 mmHg. There was no conduit valve regurgitation in nine patients. At the latest echocardiography (mean follow-up: 84.3 ± 35.5 months), the mean peak systolic pressure gradient across the RVOT was 59.7 ± 20.2 mmHg, and there was no conduit valve regurgitation in six patients. Freedom from conduit malfunction was 100% and 83.3%, at 1 and 8 years, respectively. Two conduits were explanted due to sternal compression and four from conduit malfunction. Freedom from explantation was 83.3% and 74.2% at 2 and 8 years, respectively.Conclusions: ePTFE bicuspid valved conduit has good late function in terms of valve regurgitation, but the pressure gradient across the conduit increases with time, which is the main cause of conduit failure and explantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]