Outcomes of Double-patch and Warden Techniques in Patients With Supracardiac Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection.

AIM: This study compared outcomes following the double-patch and Warden procedures for correcting partial anomalous connection of the right pulmonary veins to the superior vena cava. METHODS: Eighty (80) patients, aged <18years old, and with partial anomalous connection of the right pulmonary veins to the superior vena cava were randomly assigned into double-patch method (n=40) and Warden procedure (n=40) groups. The median follow-up was 22.5 (range, 12-39) months. The primary endpoint was sinus node dysfunction at the mid-term follow-up period. RESULTS: No early or late mortality occurred. In the early postoperative period, sinus node dysfunction was observed in 27.5% and 5% of cases after double-patch correction and the Warden procedure, respectively (risk ratio, 5.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-23.25; p=0.01). At follow-up, sinus node dysfunction persisted in two (5%) patients after double-patch correction. All patients had normal sinus rhythm after the Warden procedure. No early or late pacemaker implantation occurred in either group. No patients had significant pulmonary veins or superior vena cava stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The double-patch technique and Warden procedure both showed excellent early and mid-term results with no mortality and minimal morbidity. The Warden procedure was associated with less sinus node dysfunction in the early postoperative period than the double-patch technique. There was no significant between-group difference in sinus node dysfunction at the mid-term follow-up.

Influence of staged repair and primary repair on outcomes in patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot is a rare congenital heart disease. The combination of these lesions occurs in about 1% of all patients with atrioventricular canal defects and in 5-6% of patients with tetralogy of Fallot. To assess the influence of surgical strategy on the survival and reintervention rate for the left atrioventricular valve and right ventricular outflow tract. METHODS: We analyzed all related studies since 1986. Thirty-eight articles were initially retrieved via PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Google Scholar, from which 18 retrospective studies were included in the systematic review and 8 studies in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the 6-year survival between staged repair and primary repair [80 patients in the primary group and 81 patients in the staged group; I2 = 0%; time-to-event data Peto odds ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3-1.5, P = 0.31; hazard ratio 0.66, 95% CI 0.3-1.3, P = 0.23]. Both groups had an equal reintervention rate for the left atrioventricular valve [75 patients in the primary group and 71 patients in the staged group; I2 = 0.26%; the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.22-1.68, P = 0.33], but patients who received an initial palliation had a higher rate of reoperation on the right ventricular outflow tract [I2 = 0%; the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio 0.27, 95% CI 0.27-0.9988, P = 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this meta-analysis reveal no difference in 6-year survival and reoperation rate for the left atrioventricular valve; however, patients who underwent staged repair had a higher rate of reintervention for the right ventricular outflow tract, which could be related to initially poor pulmonary bed anatomy. Therefore, both the primary repair and the staged repair are acceptable options for repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot. The choice of surgical strategy must consider the anatomy of the pulmonary bed, patient condition and associated anomalies, which could affect surgical risk.

The Warden procedure can be successfully performed using minimally invasive cardiac surgery without aortic clamping.

Currently, minimally invasive cardiac surgery has found widespread use even in congenital heart surgery. The number of defects, which can be corrected through a small incision or totally endoscopic, is on the rise. Nowadays, surgeons can repair atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and other congenital heart defects using minimally invasive techniques. In this paper, we report 21 cases of successful repair of supracardiac partial anomalous right upper and middle pulmonary venous connection, using the Warden procedure. It was performed in children through the right-sided midaxillary thoracotomy with direct cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation and induction of ventricular fibrillation. There were no operative or early postoperative deaths or complications. All patients were in sinus rhythm at discharge. According to echocardiography, there were no cases of early SVC or pulmonary veins narrowing. The Warden procedure can be performed safely and efficiently using the minimally invasive cardiac surgery.