Abstract： Objective To investigate the longterm complications and preventions of rapid twostage arterial switch operation through longterm follow-up. Methods We reviewed the clinical information of 21 patients of rapid twostage arterial switch operation from September 2002 to September 2007 in Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. Among them, there were 13 males and 8 females with an average age of 75 d (29-250 d) and an average weight of 5 kg (3.5-7.0 kg). The data of left ventricle training period and the data before and after the twostage arterial switch operation were analyzed, and the risk factors influencing the aortic valve regurgitation were analyzed by the logistic multivariable regression analysis. Results The late diameter of anastomosis of pulmonary and aortic artery were increased compared with those shortly after operation (0.96±0.30 cm vs. 0.81±0.28 cm, t=-1.183,P=0.262; 1.06±0.25 cm vs. 0.09±0.21 cm, t=-1.833,P=0.094), but there was no significant difference. The late velocity of blood flow across the anastomoses was not accelerated, which indicated no obstruction. The late heart function was better than that shortly after operation, while there was no significant difference between left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) during these two periods (62.88%±7.28% vs. 67.92%±7.83%,t=1.362,P=0.202). The late left ventricular end diastolic dimension(LVDd) was significantly different from that shortly after operation (2.16±0.30 cm vs.2.92±0.60 cm，t=-5.281，P=0.003). Compared with earlier period after operation, the thickness of left ventricular posterior wall thickness（LVPWT）was also increased (0.39±0.12 cm vs. 0.36±0.10 cm,t=0.700,P=0.500), but there was no significant difference. The postoperative aortic valve regurgitation was worsened in 4 patients (30.77%, 4/13), not changed in 7 patients and alleviated in 2 patients compared with that before operation. There was no severe regurgitations during the followup. The logistic regression analysis showed that the small preoperative diameter ratio of aortic valve to pulmonary valve and long follow-up time were two risk factors for the [CM(159mm]aggravation of aortic regurgitation. Conclusion There is a relatively high aortic regurgitation rate after rapid two stage arterial switch operation, but there is no later death or reoperation and the survival conditions are satisfactory. All patients must be followed up periodically to check the anastomosis of pulmonary and aortic arteries and the aortic valve.
Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease which results in congnital airway lesion. CTS is often associated with cardiovascular anomalies and presented with a wide spectrum of symptoms. CTS has challenged pediatric surgeons for decades. Various classic approaches and new techniques, including computational fluid dynamics, tissue-engineering trachea, and 3D printing have been proposed for diagnosis and treatment of CTS. This review provides a snapshot of the main progress of diagnosis and treatment of CTS.
Abstract: Objective To review the shortterm outcome of modified Nikaidoh operation, aortic translocation and biventricular outflow tract reconstruction as an alternative surgical procedure for the treatment of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis (TGA/VSD/PS). Methods Between January 2004 and December 2005, 8 consecutive patients had undergone Nikaidoh procedure for the treatment of TGA/VSD/PS at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. All patients had ventriculoarterial discordance and atrioventricular concordance. Associated lesions included a straddling atrioventricular valve in one patient and hypoplastic left pulmonary artery. The median age at operation was 11.4±7.6months (4 to 29months). Weight of body was 8.0±1.9kg (5.2 to 11.0kg). No patient had previous palliative procedure. The surgical technique used was a modification of the Nikaidoh procedure. Results The median total cardiopulmonary bypass time was 176±50 minutes (range,112 to 250 minutes), and the median aortic crossclamp time was 101±27 minutes (range, 73 to 139minutes). The median length of stay in the intensive care unit was 12±9 days, with a median hospital stay of 19±12 days. There was 1 hospital death as a esult of severe left ventricle failure. There was no residual left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO), but 3 patients with mild to moderate pulmonary regurgitation and 4 patients with moderate. At a median follow-up of 8.8 months (range, 3 to 18months), all patients were alive. All have the normal ventricular function. There were ejection fraction (EF) 0.64±0.02 and fractional shortening (FS) 0.33±0.02. None of the patients developed aortic insufficiency and progressed LVOTO or RVOTO. Conclusions Nikaidoh procedure is a valuable surgical option for TGA/VSD/PS in infant, especially in the presence of “inadequate anatomy” for a Rastelli repair. Big evidence and longer follow-up are required to fully assess the potential longterm benefits of this procedure compared with the Rastelli repair.
Objective To analyze the outcome of arterial switch operation （ASO） for surgical repair of complete transposition of the great arteries （TGA）, and to investigate the risk factors influencing the mortality of ASO. Methods The clinical data of patients suffered from TGA and treated with ASO from the January 2003 to December 2004, and the clinical records in hospital including eehoeardiogram and operation record were collected. The clinical data were analyzed by chi-squared test and logistic muhivariable regression analysis, including the age undergone operation, body weight, diagnosis, anatomic type of coronary artery, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic crossclamping time, circulation arrest time, assisted respiration time after operation, the delayed closure of sternum and so on. The risk factors influencing the early mortality of the ASO were analyzed. Results Sixty seven patients were operated with ASO, five patients died during the peri-operative period. The outcome of univariate analysis indicated that risk factors influencing the mortality of ASO included： age（P=0. 004）, body weight （P=0. 042）, anatomic type of coronary artery （P= 0. 006） and extracorporeal circulation time （P= 0. 048）, the length of the CICU stay（P= 0. 004） and the hospital stay（P=0. 007） after operation in the TGA/VSD patients were longer than those in TGA/ IVS patients. The logistic muhivariable regression analysis indicated that the age at operation （P= 0. 012）, coronary arteries anomaly （P = 0.001 ）and the longer cardiopulmonary bypass time （P = 0. 002） were correlated with the increase of death rate. Conclusion It could be good results for TGA patients who was repaired with ASO. The age at operation, the coronary arteries anomaly and the longer cardiopulmonary bypass time are the risk factors influencing the mortality.
Objective To summarize the clinical experiences of using the remaining coronary buttons to reconstruct the neoaortic root in the arterial switch operation (ASO) and discuss the clinical significance of preserving the morphology of aortic sinus in improving postoperative coronary artery perfusion. Methods From January 2003 to June 2009, 110 patients with transposition of great arteries (TGA) combined with ventricular septal defect (VSD ) or the Taussig Bing anomaly treated in our hospital were enrolled in this study. The patients were at the age between 2 days and 2 years averaged 91.1 days, and their body weight varied between 1.79 and 9.50 kg with an average weight of 4.70 kg. The patients were divided into two groups based on different surgical strategies. For group A (n=78), we reconstructed the neoaortic root with the remaining coronary buttons by shortening the diameter of the proximal neoaorta. While for group B (n=32), we excised the remaining coronary buttons with the aortopulmonary diameter mismatched. The risk factors of hospital mortality were analyzed with stepwise logistic regression. Results Twelve patients died early after operation with a death rate of 10.9% (12/110). Mortality in group A was significantly lower than that in group B ［6.4%(5/78) vs. 21.9%(7/32)，P= 0.019］. Clinical followup was completed in 72 survivors with the followup time of 3 months to 5 years after operation. Late death occurred in 3 patients including 1 in group A and 2 in group B. Five patients underwent reoperations. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors for early postoperative death were TaussigBing anomaly (χ2=4.011,P=0.046), aortic arch anomaly (χ2=4.437,P=0.036), single coronary artery pattern (χ2=5.071,P=0.025) and patients in group B (χ2=5.584, P= 0.019). Multivariate analysis confirmed that the aortic arch anomaly (χ2= 5.681, P=0.010 ) and patients in group B (χ2=3.987, P=0.047 ) were two independent risk factors for early mortality after operation. Conclusion The modified technique which uses the remaining coronary buttons to reconstruct the neoaortic root can preserve the morphology of neoaortic root better. The special anatomical morphology of aortic sinus has close relation to the perfusion of coronary arteries. The lowering hospital mortality may be due to the better perfusion of the coronary arteries.
Objective To summarize the early experience of modified Nuss procedure with thoracoscope for repairing pectus excavatum in children. Methods Fiftythree pediatric pectus excavatum were treated by modified Nuss procedure with thoracoscope from June 2004 to July 2006, theage ranged from 2.4 to 16.0 years, the average age was 8.1 years. Thirtysix patients were symmetric pectus excavatum and 17 patients were asymmetric pectus excavatum. Results The operation in all patients were successful, the average blood loss was less than 10ml. Pericardium perforation occurred in 2 earlier patients during the operation, pneumothorax occurred in 6 patients postoperatively,pleural effusion occurred in 3 patients, and all resolved by corresponding treatments. The average hospital length of stay was 5.5 days. All patients had a satisfied deformity correction and no needs of transfusion. The depression was thoroughly corrected in 48 patients, residual depression was less than 20% of preoperative degrees in 5 patients. Therapeutic results evaluation showed excellent in 46 patients and good in 7 patients. All patients were followed up in 1-25 months without any complaints, the activity ability was same as normal children; there were no bar displacement and injury event occurred. The bar had been removed in 1 patient 24 months after surgery who still kept in excellent results. Conclusion Modified Nuss procedure is easy to be performed with minimal invasion and good shortterm results. Thoracoscopic visualization facilitates the safety of this technique. It is recommendable to be tried and extended applied.