Neo-aortic posterior sinus of Valsalva reduction and closed coronary artery transfer as a method to approach aortopulmonary mismatch in transposition of great arteries.

OBJECTIVE: In transposition of great arteries (TGA), aortopulmonary mismatch (APM) can determine postoperative neo-aortic insufficiency after arterial switch operation (ASO). The distortion of sinu-tubular junction may be the geometric mechanism responsible. We developed a strategy able to reduce the mismatch at the timing of ASO, and in this study, we aimed to describe our indications and results. METHODS: Preoperative root circumferences at the level of the mid-portion of sinus of Valsalva and ascending aorta circumference were used to define APM. Indication to surgery was a neo-aortic root (NAR) to ascending aorta ratio ≥ 1.4. Along with standard ASO, posterior neo-aortic sinus inverted conal resection and punch technique for coronary reimplantation was used in all patients to re-establish the more geometric ratio possible between the two components. Hypoplastic aortic arch (HAA) and aortic coarctation (CA) were managed by aortic arch enlargement with an autologous pericardial patch. RESULTS: Twenty patients (20 male), 19 with diagnoses TGA (17 with ventricular septal defect, 85%) and 1 with Taussig-Bing anomaly underwent ASO. HAA was present in three (15%) and CA in two (10%). The mean preoperative neo-aortic to ascending aorta ratio was 1.8 versus 1.1 postoperatively (p < .01). No moderate or severe neo-aortic insufficiency was observed before discharge and at a mean follow-up of 4.3 years (interquartile range = 0.5-12 years). CONCLUSION: Neo-aortic reduction plasty with coronary reimplantation by punch technique is an effective strategy to approach preoperative APM in TGA. This technique confers a more harmonious geometry to NAR that can improve neo-aortic valve function.

Neo-aortic insufficiency late after staged reconstruction for hypoplastic left heart syndrome: impact of differences in initial palliative procedures.

The neo-aortic insufficiency in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is an important sequela. We assessed the risks of the neo-aortic valve deterioration by the difference of initial palliations: Group I underwent primary Norwood (Nw) with systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt (SPS), Group II underwent bilateral pulmonary artery banding (bPAB) and subsequent Nw with SPS (bPAB-Nw/SPS), Group III underwent bPAB and subsequent Nw with bidirectional Glenn (BDG) procedure (bPAB-Nw/BDG). The neo-aortic valve z score changes over time did not reach statistical significance in all groups (p = 0.43 for Group I, 0.20 for Group II, and 0.30 for Group III). The degree of neo-aortic valve insufficiency did not change significantly over time during this period except for Group III (p = 0.34 for Group I, 0.20 for Group II, and 0.02 for Group III). On the other hand, dimensions of the neo-aortic annulus and degrees of neo-aortic insufficiency did not differ significantly among the 3 groups at any pre-determined time. The presence or absence of incision into the sino-tubular junction at Nw did not affect the late neo-aortic valve z score or insufficiency. These data indicate that the difference of initial palliative procedures does not affect late neo-aortic valve insufficiency in Nw survivors. Because valve failure may develop in longer follow-up, further observation should be conducted.