Impact of Gestational Age on Surgical Outcomes in Patients With Functionally Single Ventricle

Younger gestational age (GA) is known to be associated with worse outcomes after congenital cardiac surgery. We sought to determine the impact of GA on surgical outcomes of single-ventricle palliation.Among the 284 patients with functionally single ventricle who were born between January 2005 and December 2014, 50 neonates were born prematurely (GA37 weeks) and 113 neonates in the early term period (37 weeks ≤ GA39 weeks). Initial palliation was required in 251 patients, whereas 33 patients received primary bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis (BCPA).BCPA and the completion Fontan operation were performed in 200 and 169 patients, respectively. Overall survival at 5 years were 62.5% ± 2.9%. On Cox regression younger GA (hazard ratio, 1.14 per 1-week decrease; P = .007) was identified as a risk factor for increased interstage mortality (ISM) between initial palliation and BCPA. On subgroup analysis of the preterm or early-term patients with initial palliation (n = 145), younger postmenstrual age at initial palliation was associated with increased ISM before BCPA (hazard ratio, 1.18; P = .005). After BCPA, however, younger GA did not increase the risk of ISM between BCPA and the Fontan operation (P = .47).Younger GA is a risk factor for ISM between initial palliation and BCPA. Deferral of initial palliation may be beneficial to decrease the risk of ISM in patients who were born at preterm or early term. Adverse effects of younger GA on survival disappeared once BCPA was performed.