Staged Ventricular Septation of the Double-Inlet Ventricle: How-I-Do-It.

Ventricular septation of the double-inlet ventricle is a largely abandoned operation due to poor historical outcomes. However, there has been renewed interest in septation as an alternative to Fontan palliation given its long-term sequelae. As one of the few centers to revisit septation in the early 1990s, our institution has long-term data on a series of patients with a double-inlet ventricle who underwent biventricular repair. This manuscript is a summary of our approach to staged septation of the double-inlet ventricle, with a focus on patient selection criteria, surgical techniques, perioperative considerations on timing of interventions, and long-term results. We believe that septation of the double-inlet ventricle should be reconsidered in patients with suitable anatomy in light of the known complications of Fontan palliation.

Outcomes of the Arterial Switch Operation in ≤2.5-kg Neonates.

Although low birth weight is a known risk factor for mortality in congenital heart lesions and may consequently delay surgical repair, outcomes in low-weight neonates undergoing the arterial switch operation (ASO) have not been well described. Our objective was to assess the safety of this procedure in infants weighing ≤2.5 kg at the time of surgery. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes for all neonates undergoing the ASO at our institution from 2005 to 2015. Our primary outcome of interest was major morbidity or operative mortality, assessed as a composite outcome. From 2005 to 2015, 217 neonates underwent the ASO, with 31 (14%) weighing ≤2.5 kg at the date of surgery, and 8 weighing <2.0 kg. Neonates weighing ≤2.5 kg were more likely to be premature than those weighing >2.5 kg, but there was no difference in the age at operation between these groups. Overall, 32 infants experienced a major morbidity or mortality, including 37.5% (n = 3) weighing <2.0 kg, 8.7% (n = 2) weighing 2.0-2.5 kg, and 14.5% (n = 7) weighing >2.5 kg (P = 0.141). One infant weighing <2.0 kg (1.1 kg) and 4 infants weighing >2.5 kg died. In multivariable models, odds of major morbidity or mortality were significantly higher for infants weighing <2 kg compared with infants weighing >2.5 kg (odds ratio 3.93, 95% confidence interval 1.04-14.85, P = 0.044), but there was no difference between infants weighing 2.0-2.5 kg and those weighing >2.5 kg (P = 0.225). The ASO can be performed safely in 2.0- to 2.5-kg neonates and yields results comparable with higher weight infants. Imposed delays for corrective surgery may not be necessary for these low-weight infants with transposition of the great arteries.

Coding of coronary arterial origin and branching in congenital heart disease: The modified Leiden Convention.

OBJECTIVES: Variations in coronary anatomy are common and may relate to the position of the coronary ostium relative to the aortic sinus, the angle of coronary take-off, or the course of the coronary arterial branches. Several classification systems have been proposed. However, they all lack a simple rationale that is applicable irrespective of the relative position of the great arteries, as well as in bicuspid aortic valves. We present a modification of a relatively simple system introduced in the early 1980s, designated the "Leiden Convention." METHODS: The first step of the Leiden Convention is that the clinician takes position in the nonfacing sinus of the aorta looking toward the pulmonary orifice. The right-hand facing sinus is sinus 1, and the left-hand facing sinus is sinus 2. The coronary branches arising from sinus 1 are annotated proceeding in a counterclockwise fashion toward sinus 2. "Usual" (normal) coronary anatomy would be 1R-2LCx. Given their clinical relevance, single sinus coronary arteries are discussed separately. RESULTS: This system was originally designed and highly applicable in hearts with an altered great artery relationship, such as in the variable and complicated patterns seen in transposition of the great arteries and double outlet right ventricle. The modified system also can be used in cases with normally related great arteries, cases with single sinus coronary arteries, and cases with bicuspid aortic valves. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Leiden Convention is not a strict classification but a simple coronary coding system that is broadly applicable.

Cardiac Function After Tetralogy of Fallot/Complete Atrioventricular Canal Repair.

BACKGROUND: Repair of complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a challenging operation increasingly being performed as a complete, primary repair in infancy. Previous studies have focused on perioperative outcomes; however, midterm valve function, ventricular function, and residual obstruction have received little attention. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients who underwent CAVC/TOF repair (January 2005 to December 2014). A two-patch repair was used in all patients to correct the CAVC defect. Tetralogy of Fallot repair included transannular patch in 11 (65%) patients and valve-sparing in 6 (35%) patients. RESULTS: The average age at surgery was 72 ± 122 weeks, 40% were male, and 80% had trisomy 21. Mean echo follow-up was 3.0 ± 3.0 years. There were no in-hospital or late mortalities. The rate of reoperation was 20%. At the latest follow-up, moderate left atrioventricular valve regurgitation was present in three (15%) patients and mild stenosis present in seven (35%) patients. One (5%) patient had moderate right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction. The valve-sparing population was smaller at the time of surgery than the non-valve-sparing cohort (body surface area: 0.28 ± 0.04 vs 0.42 ± 0.11, P = .002) and less likely to have had a previous shunt (0% vs 64%, P = .01). Among the valve-sparing patients (six), at the latest follow-up, moderate pulmonary insufficiency was present in two (33%) patients. CONCLUSION: Repair of CAVC concomitant with TOF can be performed with low mortality and acceptable perioperative morbidity. Management of the RVOT remains a challenge for the long term.

Postoperative tricuspid regurgitation after adult congenital heart surgery is associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Many patients with adult congenital heart disease will require cardiac surgery during their lifetime, and some will have concomitant tricuspid regurgitation. However, the optimal management of significant tricuspid regurgitation at the time of cardiac surgery remains unclear. We assessed the determinants of adverse outcomes in patients with adult congenital heart disease and moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation undergoing cardiac surgery for non-tricuspid regurgitation-related indications. METHODS: All adult patients with congenital heart disease and greater than moderate tricuspid regurgitation who underwent cardiac surgery for non-tricuspid regurgitation-related indications were included in a retrospective study at the Schneeweiss Adult Congenital Heart Center. Cohorts were defined by the type of tricuspid valve intervention at the time of surgery. The primary end point of interest was a composite of death, heart transplantation, and reoperation on the tricuspid valve. RESULTS: A total of 107 patients met inclusion criteria, and 17 patients (17%) reached the primary end point. A total of 68 patients (64%) underwent tricuspid valve repair, 8 patients (7%) underwent tricuspid valve replacement, and 31 patients (29%) did not have a tricuspid valve intervention. By multivariate analysis, moderate or greater postoperative tricuspid regurgitation was associated with a hazard ratio of 6.12 (1.84-20.3) for the primary end point (P = .003). In addition, failure to perform a tricuspid valve intervention at the time of surgery was associated with an odds ratio of 4.17 (1.26-14.3) for moderate or greater postoperative tricuspid regurgitation (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate or greater postoperative tricuspid regurgitation was associated with an increased risk of death, transplant, or reoperation in adult patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery for non-tricuspid regurgitation-related indications. Concomitant tricuspid valve intervention at the time of cardiac surgery should be considered in patients with adult congenital heart disease with moderate or greater preoperative tricuspid regurgitation.

Repair of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Right Pulmonary Artery: A Series of Nine Cases.

BACKGROUND: Repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the right pulmonary artery presents a particular technical challenge to the congenital cardiac surgeon. There is disagreement in the literature over the optimal technique for this defect, with some authors advocating for unroofing of the periaortic segment of coronary artery, while others prefer direct aortic reimplantation of the artery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study examining outcomes of patients who were repaired for this anomaly at our institution. In-hospital and outpatient follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: Nine patients were identified. Most patients had poor left ventricular function at the time of surgery. All patients in our series were repaired using the direct coronary transfer technique. To date there were no mortalities among the study participants. At last follow-up, all patients with available echocardiograms had normal ventricular function. One patient required reoperation for anastomotic stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that using the technique of direct coronary transfer to the aorta, we have achieved excellent results with repair of this defect.

Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot in Children Less Than 4 kg Body Weight.

We reviewed our experience of surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in children weighing less than or equal to 4 kg to compare outcome of early palliation versus complete repair as the initial surgical approach. Seventy-six patients, weighing ≤ 4 kg, with TOF surgery between January 2005 and September 2013 were included in this single-center retrospective study. Twenty-five patients who underwent initial shunt procedure followed by later full repair were compared to 51 patients who had primary full repair for differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes. Shunt group patients had lower body weight, 2.76 ± 0.69 versus 3.11 ± 0.65 (kg), p = 0.03, and lower preoperative oxygen saturations, 82 ± 7 versus 90 ± 6 (%), p = 0.0001, than full repair group. A higher number of surgical procedures per patient was recorded in shunt patients, 2.29 ± 0.59 versus 1.27 ± 0.49, p = 0.00002. Thirteen of 51 patients in the full repair group required a repeat surgery. Catheterization procedures were performed in 12 patients in shunt and in 15 patients in full repair group, with interventional angioplasty in three and 11, respectively, p ≥ 0.05. Two patients, both in the shunt group, died after the surgery. Early full repair had longer hospital stay but significantly less hospitalizations 1.95 ± 1.3 versus 2.5 ± 1.4, p = 0.03. Initial complete repair of TOF in small children yielded favorable outcome with significantly less surgical procedures and subsequent hospitalizations. Cath laboratory re-interventions for residual defects were similar after both surgical approaches, and type of initial surgery does not predict freedom from re-intervention.

Earlier arterial switch operation improves outcomes and reduces costs for neonates with transposition of the great arteries.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine the impact of surgical timing on major morbidity and hospital reimbursement for late preterm and term infants with dextrotransposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). BACKGROUND: Neonatal arterial switch operation is the standard of care for d-TGA. Little is known about the effects of age at operation on clinical outcomes or costs for these neonates. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of infants at ≥36 weeks' gestation, with d-TGA, with or without ventricular septal defects, admitted to our institution at 5 days of age or younger, between January 1, 2003 and October 1, 2012. Children with other cardiac abnormalities or other major comorbid conditions were excluded. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine the effects of age at operation on major morbidity and hospital reimbursement. RESULTS: A total of 140 infants met inclusion criteria. Reimbursement data were available for them through January 1, 2012 (n = 128). The mortality rate was 1.4% (n = 2). Twenty percent (n = 28) experienced a major morbidity. The median costs were $60,000, in 2012 dollars (range: $25,000 to $549,000). The median age at operation was 5 days (range: 1 to 12 days). For every day later that surgery was performed, beyond day of life 3, the odds of major morbidity increased by 47% (range: 23% to 66%, p < 0.001) and costs increased by 8% (range: 5% to 11%, p < 0.001), after considering the effects of sex, birth weight, gestational age, year at which surgery was performed, transfer, weekend admission, insurance, surgeon, septostomy, bypass and cross-clamp times, and the presence of ventricular septal defects or abnormal coronary anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: Delay of neonatal arterial switch operation beyond 3 days is significantly associated with increased morbidity and healthcare costs.

Primary arterial switch operation as a strategy for total correction of Taussig-Bing anomaly: a 21-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Studies of the arterial switch operation for Taussig-Bing anomaly demonstrate significant rates of reintervention and mortality, particularly after initial palliation to delay complete repair. We aimed to describe the long-term outcomes of our 21-year practice of single-stage arterial switch operation for all patients with Taussig-Bing anomaly. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective study was performed, and 43 patients with Taussig-Bing anomaly were identified between 1990 and 2011. Median age at arterial switch operation was 7 (range, 2-192) days, and median operative weight was 3.2 (1.4-6.2) kg. Aortic arch obstruction was present in 30 patients (70%). Hospital mortality was 7% (n=3). Follow-up was available for 37 hospital survivors at a mean of 8.1 (± 6.3) years. Late mortality was 2% (n=1). At follow-up, all patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I. Freedom from transcatheter or surgical reintervention was 73% at 1 year, 64% at 5 years, and 60% at 10 years. Eleven patients underwent 13 catheter reinterventions on the pulmonary arteries (n=8) or aortic arch (n=5). Seven patients underwent 11 reoperations, including relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (n=5), pulmonary arterioplasty (n=3), recoarctation repair (n=2), and tricuspid valve repair (n=1). By multivariate analysis, a preoperative aortic valve annulus z score of ≤-2.5 was associated with reintervention (hazard ratio, 7.66 [95% confidence interval, 1.29-45.6], P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Although reintervention is common, primary correction of Taussig-Bing anomaly with arterial switch operation can be achieved in all patients with low mortality and good long-term outcomes.

Cardiac troponin I after cardiopulmonary bypass in infants in comparison with older children.

OBJECTIVE: At the present time, there is a trend towards performing open heart surgery at a younger age. Myocardium of infants has been thought to be more vulnerable to cardiopulmonary bypass in comparison with adults. For this study, we evaluated the degree of myocardial injury by measurement of cardiac troponin levels in infants in comparison with older children for similar surgeries. METHODS: Serum was collected before bypass, after bypass, and daily after surgery and serum cardiac troponin I level (micrograms per litre). The demographic data, cardiac diagnoses, types of surgery performed, and peri-operative parameters were collected. RESULTS: Of the 21 children enrolled consecutively, five were infants. Among the 21 patients, four patients had post-operative peak troponin values greater than 100 (three were infants) and all four patients survived and had normal left ventricular systolic function upon discharge echocardiogram. The five infants had peak troponin levels of 222.3, 202, 129, 26.7, and 82.3. The post-operative peak troponin levels were significantly higher in infants (mean 132.5 with a standard deviation of 81.6) than in the older children (mean 40.3 with a standard deviation of 33.4), although there was no significant difference in bypass time, bypass temperature, cross-clamp time, or the length of stay in the intensive care unit between the two age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Higher troponin release is seen in infants in comparison with older children after bypass for similar surgeries. A troponin level greater than 100 after bypass does not necessarily predict death or a severe cardiovascular event in the very young.

The effect of cardiopulmonary bypass prime volume on the need for blood transfusion after pediatric cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: There is increasing awareness that erythrocyte transfusions after pediatric cardiac surgery have deleterious effects. Despite reports of decreased transfusion requirements associated with smaller cardiopulmonary bypass circuits, the relationship between circuit prime volume and need for transfusion has not been systematically examined. METHODS: Pediatric patients at our institution who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2005 and December 2010 were reviewed. Demographics, intraoperative data, and transfusion of packed red blood cells were retrospectively recorded. Cardiopulmonary bypass prime volume was indexed by patient body surface area. Logistic regression analysis was used to correlate these variables with need for transfusion. RESULTS: In the perioperative period, 1912 patients received transfusions and 266 did not. In univariate analysis, indexed prime volume was a significant predictor of transfusion (odds ratio, 1.007; P < .001). Other significant variables in univariate analysis included age, surgeon, Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 (RACHS-1) category, preoperative hemoglobin, total bypass time, aortic crossclamp time, use and duration of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, lowest body core temperature, and cardiopulmonary bypass flow rate. Previous cardiac surgery was not a significant predictor. In multivariable analysis controlling for RACHS-1 category, surgeon, minimal core body temperature, and preoperative hemoglobin, indexed prime volume remained an independent predictor of transfusion (odds ratio, 1.006; 95% confidence interval, 1.005-1.007, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative need for transfusion in pediatric cardiac surgical patients is independently related to the prime volume of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. It therefore seems prudent to minimize circuit prime volumes to avoid unnecessary use of blood products.

Outcomes of the infant Ross procedure for congenital aortic stenosis followed into adolescence.

OBJECTIVES: The Ross procedure is used to treat aortic valve disease in children. The advantages include autograft growth, long-term durability, and avoidance of anticoagulation. Long-term follow-up of the Ross procedure in infancy is limited. We sought to characterize the long-term outcomes of infants undergoing the Ross procedure. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent a Ross operation at 18 months of age or younger at New-York Presbyterian and Cardiothoracic Center of Monaco from 1991 to 2010. The clinical, catheterization, and surgical records were reviewed. The most recent follow-up information, including echocardiogram and electrocardiogram, was obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients underwent a Ross procedure at a median age of 6 months (range, 4 days to 18.4 months). All had congenital aortic stenosis. All but 1 patient had undergone previous surgical or catheter-based interventions. The median follow-up was 10.6 years (range, 1.4-20.4 years). There were 4 early deaths and 1 late transplant. The freedom from right ventricular outflow tract reintervention was 85% at 5 years and 64% at 10 years. The freedom from autograft reintervention was 95.5% at 10 years. In 20 subjects, late follow-up echocardiograms showed a significant difference between the mean early and late Z scores of the autograft annulus (0.8 vs 2.4, P = .03), sinus (0.8 vs 2.8, P = .002), and sinotubular junction (1.2 vs 2.7, P = .04). Mild or less aortic insufficiency occurred in 17 subjects. None had significant aortic stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcomes of the Ross procedure in infants and toddlers are favorable despite moderate dilatation of the autograft. Reintervention at the right ventricular outflow tract is common.

Intact right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt after stage 2 palliation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome improves pulmonary artery growth.

For patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who have undergone the Norwood procedure with a right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) shunt, the shunt can either be removed or left intact at the time of the stage 2 procedure. This study aimed to determine the effects of an intact shunt on pulmonary artery growth and clinical outcomes after the stage 2 procedure. A retrospective review of patients who underwent Norwood with an RV-PA shunt from 2005 to 2010 was performed. Catheterization data, echocardiographic data, postoperative outcome variables, and mortality data were collected. Pulmonary artery size was measured at pre-stage 2 and pre-Fontan catheterizations using the Nakata Index and the McGoon Ratio. Of the 68 patients included in the study, 48 had the shunt removed at the time of stage 2 (group 1), and 20 had the shunt left intact (group 2). The two groups did not differ in terms of pre-stage 2 hemodynamics or pulmonary artery size. After stage 2, group 2 had higher oxygen saturations. The two groups did not differ regarding duration of chest tube drainage, length of hospital stay, need for unplanned interventions, or mortality. Before Fontan, the group 2 patients had higher superior vena cava (SVC) pressures and more venovenous collaterals closed. There was increased pulmonary artery growth between the pre-stage 2 and pre-Fontan catheterizations in group 2 using both the Nakata Index (+148.5 vs -52.4 mm(2)/m(2); p = 0.01) and the McGoon Ratio (+0.36 vs +0.01; p = 0.01). These findings indicate that patients with an intact RV-PA shunt after stage 2 have greater pulmonary artery growth than patients with the shunt removed, with no increased risk of complications.

Hypoplastic right cervical aortic arch.

We describe a neonate with a rare congenital anomaly of the aorta. The anomaly included a hypoplastic aortic arch that was cervical and right sided. This complex combination was treated by a Norwood type procedure reconstructing a right-sided arch and, in a later stage, a Rastelli procedure. These 2 procedures achieved a 2 ventricular repair. The diagnostic and surgical challenges of this rare anomaly are described in this case report.

Outcomes after transplantation for "failed" Fontan: a single-institution experience.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the excellent outcomes in the current era after the Fontan procedure, it continues to have an inherent risk of failure. Cardiac transplantation provides 1 option for treating these patients; however, the indications for, timing of, and outcomes after, transplantation remain undefined. We examined our own institutional experience with transplantation for failed Fontan. METHODS: The records of 155 patients transplanted for congenital heart disease at a single institution from June 1984 to September 2007 were reviewed. Of these patients, 43 had undergone a previous Fontan procedure (25 male, 15 female; median age, 14.5 years; range, 1-47; 23 classic Fontan, 13 lateral tunnel, 4 extracardiac conduit, and 3 revised to shunt). The predictors of short- and long-term survival were evaluated, and the Fontan patients were compared with all other patients with congenital heart disease (n = 129, 78 male, 51 female). RESULTS: The most common indications for transplantation included protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) (39.5%), chronic heart failure (41.8%), and acute post-Fontan failure (9.3%). The transplants performed in Fontan patients were more likely to require pulmonary artery reconstruction (85.4% vs 42.9%; P < .0001) and had longer cardiopulmonary bypass times (278 vs 179 minutes; P < .0001). The 90-day mortality rate was greater in the Fontan group (35.0% vs 20.0%; P = .055). No correlation was observed between the interval from Fontan to transplantation and morality; however, renal failure was a strong predictor of early mortality (odds ratio, 10.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-75.7). CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation is an acceptable treatment for patients with a failed Fontan. Clinical factors (instead of the indication for transplantation) appear to have the greatest correlation with early mortality.

Outcomes in pediatric cardiac transplantation with a positive HLA cross-match.

Previous studies have shown poor outcomes in pediatric heart transplant recipients with a high PRA or a positive direct donor-recipient cross-match. This study describes outcomes in patients with a positive cross-match at a large pediatric program. Pediatric heart transplant patients at a large single center between January 1993 and July 2009 were reviewed; those with cross-match data were analyzed. Cross-match data were available in 242/262 (92.4%) patients. Indications for transplant were cardiomyopathy (58%), CHD (32%), and retransplant (7%). PRA was ≥10% in 31/213 (14.6%) patients. A retrospective cross-match was positive in 17/31 (55%) patients with PRA ≥10% and 0/182 with PRA <10%. In positive cross-match patients, rejection frequency in the first year post-transplant was higher than negative cross-match patients (1.69 vs. 0.96 episodes/pt year, p = 0.014). There was no difference in rejection frequency after the first year post-transplant (0.18 vs. 0.12 episodes/pt year, p = 0.14). Overall survival was not significantly different between the groups with a median follow-up time of 4.5 yr. Heart transplantation in patients with a positive cross-match may result in good medium-term survival but a higher frequency of early rejection. Further investigation is warranted to define which patients with a positive cross-match will do poorly.

Age less than two years is not a risk factor for mortality after mitral valve replacement in children.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes for mitral valve replacement (MVR) in the pediatric population are generally reported as poor, particularly in patients less than 2 years old. We compared long-term morbidity and mortality associated with MVR between patients less than 2 years old and patients 2 to 18 years old. METHODS: We evaluated pediatric patients undergoing MVR from March 1990 to November 2007 at our institution. Morbidity and mortality was compared between patients less than 2 years and patients 2 to 18 years old. Primary endpoints measured were postoperative survival, long-term survival, reoperation, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, and significant bleeding events. RESULTS: Forty-five patients underwent 54 MVRs. Median age was 3.1 years; 18 patients were under 2 years. Median follow-up time was 5.4 years. There was no statistically significant difference between long-term or short-term survival between the two age groups, with 30-day survival of 89% (younger patients) versus 100% (older patients), and 10-year survival of 82% (younger patients) versus 85% (older patients). Freedom from reoperation for the younger age group was 40% at 10 years versus 96% for the older patients, p = 0.003. CONCLUSIONS: In our population, there was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients less than 2 years and patients 2 to 18 years. In children undergoing MVR, age less than 2 years remains a risk factor for reoperation but not for mortality.

Listing and transplanting adults with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are reaching adulthood and may require heart transplantation. The survival of these patients after listing and transplantation has not been evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 41 849 patients (aged >18 years) were listed for primary transplantation during 1995-2009. Patients with a history of CHD (n=1035; 2.5%) were compared with those with other causes (non-CHD group) (n=40 814; 97.5%); 26 055 (62.3%) reached transplantation and were subdivided into those with (reoperation group; n=10 484; 40.2%) and without (nonreoperation group; n=15 571; 59.8%) a previous sternotomy. Survival on the waiting list was similar between groups, but mechanical ventricular assistance was not associated with superior survival to transplantation among CHD patients. CHD patients were more likely to have body mass index <18.5 at transplantation (P<0.0001), were younger, and had fewer comorbidities. Early mortality among patients with CHD was high (reoperation, 18.9% versus 9.6%; P<0.0001; nonreoperation, 16.6% versus 6.3%; P<0.0001), but by 10 years, overall survival was equivalent (53.8% versus 53.6%). Analysis was limited by the lack of specific information regarding the CHD diagnosis in most patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with CHD have high 30-day mortality but better late survival after heart transplantation. Mechanical circulatory assistance does not improve waiting list survival in these patients. This may be due to a combination of highly complex reoperative surgery and often poor preoperative systemic health.

Increased short- and long-term mortality at low-volume pediatric heart transplant centers: should minimum standards be set? Retrospective data analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between volume and outcome in many complex surgical procedures is well established. BACKGROUND: No published data has examined this relationship in pediatric cardiac transplantation, but low-volume adult heart transplant programs seem to have higher early mortality. METHODS: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) provided center-specific data for the 4647 transplants performed on patients younger than 19 years old, 1992 to 2007. Patients were stratified into 3 groups based on the volume of transplants performed in the previous 5 years at that center: low [<19 transplants, n = 1135 (24.4%)], medium [19­62 transplants, n = 2321(50.0%)], and high [≥63 transplants, n= 1191 (25.6%)]. A logistic regression model for postoperative mortality was developed and observed-to-expected (O:E) mortality rates calculated for each group. RESULTS: Unadjusted long-term survival decreased with decreasing center volume (P<0.0001). Observed postoperative mortality was higher than expected at low-volume centers [O:E ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05­1.83]. At low volume centers, high-risk patients (1.34, 0.85­2.12)--especially patients 1 year old or younger (1.60, 1.07­2.40) or those with congenital heart disease (1.36, 0.94­1.96)--did poorly, but those at high-volume centers did well (congenital heart disease: 0.90, 0.36­1.26; age<1 year: 0.75, 0.51­1.09). Similar results were obtained in the subset of patients transplanted after 1996. In multivariate logistic regression modeling, transplantation at a low-volume center was associated with an odds ratio for postoperative mortality of 1.60 (95% CI, 1.14­2.24); transplantation at a medium volume center had an odds ratio of 1.24 (95% CI, 0.92­1.66). CONCLUSION: The volume of transplants performed at any one center has a significant impact on outcomes. Regionalization of care is one option for improving outcomes in pediatric cardiac transplantation.