Outcomes of the Conversion of the Fontan-Kreutzer Operation to a Total Cavopulmonary Connection for the Failing Univentricular Circulation.

BACKGROUND: The Fontan-Kreutzer procedure (FK) was widely performed in the past, but in the long-term generated many complications resulting in univentricular circulation failure. The conversion to total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is one of the options for treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of conversion from FK to TCPC. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records for patients who underwent the conversion of FK to TCPC in the period of 1985 to 2016. Significance p < 0,05. RESULTS: Fontan-type operations were performed in 420 patients during this period: TCPC was performed in 320, lateral tunnel technique in 82, and FK in 18. Ten cases from the FK group were elected to conversion to TCPC. All patients submitted to Fontan Conversion were included in this study. In nine patients the indication was due to uncontrolled arrhythmia and in one, due to protein-losing enteropathy. Death was observed in the first two cases. The average intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) was 13 days, and the average hospital LOS was 37 days. A functional class by New York Heart Association (NYHA) improvement was observed in 80% of the patients in NYHA I or II. Fifty-seven percent of conversions due to arrhythmias had improvement of arrhythmias; four cases are cured. CONCLUSIONS: The conversion is a complex procedure and requires an experienced tertiary hospital to be performed. The conversion has improved the NYHA functional class despite an unsatisfactory resolution of the arrhythmia.

Outcomes of the Conversion of the Fontan-Kreutzer Operation to a Total Cavopulmonary Connection for the Failing Univentricular Circulation / Resultados da Conversão da Cirurgia de Fontan-Kreutzer para Cavo-Pulmonar Total Devido Falência da Circulação Univentricular

Abstract Background: The Fontan-Kreutzer procedure (FK) was widely performed in the past, but in the long-term generated many complications resulting in univentricular circulation failure. The conversion to total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is one of the options for treatment. Objective: To evaluate the results of conversion from FK to TCPC. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records for patients who underwent the conversion of FK to TCPC in the period of 1985 to 2016. Significance p < 0,05. Results: Fontan-type operations were performed in 420 patients during this period: TCPC was performed in 320, lateral tunnel technique in 82, and FK in 18. Ten cases from the FK group were elected to conversion to TCPC. All patients submitted to Fontan Conversion were included in this study. In nine patients the indication was due to uncontrolled arrhythmia and in one, due to protein-losing enteropathy. Death was observed in the first two cases. The average intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) was 13 days, and the average hospital LOS was 37 days. A functional class by New York Heart Association (NYHA) improvement was observed in 80% of the patients in NYHA I or II. Fifty-seven percent of conversions due to arrhythmias had improvement of arrhythmias; four cases are cured. Conclusions: The conversion is a complex procedure and requires an experienced tertiary hospital to be performed. The conversion has improved the NYHA functional class despite an unsatisfactory resolution of the arrhythmia.

Resumo Fundamento: O procedimento de Fontan-Kreutzer (FK) foi amplamente realizado no passado, mas a longo prazo gerou muitas complicações, resultando em falha na circulação univentricular. A conversão para conexão cavopulmonar total (CCPT) é uma das opções de tratamento. Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados da conversão de FK para CCPT. Métodos: Revisão retrospectiva de prontuários de pacientes submetidos à conversão de FK para CCPT no período de 1985 a 2016. Significância p < 0,05. Resultados: Operações do tipo Fontan foram realizadas em 420 pacientes durante este período: CCPT foi realizada em 320, técnica de túnel lateral em 82 e FK em 18. Dez casos do grupo FK foram eleitos para conversão em CCPT. Todos os pacientes submetidos à conversão de Fontan foram incluídos neste estudo. Em nove pacientes, a indicação deveu-se a arritmia não controlada e em um devido à enteropatia perdedora de proteínas. A morte foi observada nos dois primeiros casos. O tempo médio de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) foi de 13 dias e o tempo médio de internação hospitalar foi de 37 dias. Uma classe funcional pela melhora da New York Heart Association (NYHA) foi observada em 80% dos pacientes em NYHA I ou II. Cinquenta e sete por cento das conversões devido a arritmias tiveram melhora das arritmias; quatro casos foram curados. Conclusões: A conversão é um procedimento complexo e requer que um hospital terciário experiente seja realizado. A conversão melhorou a classe funcional da NYHA, apesar de uma resolução insatisfatória da arritmia.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Fontan-Kreutzer Completion of Hepatic Vein Inclusion.

We report the case of an 11-year-old girl with heterotaxy syndrome, dextrocardia, and azygos continuation of an interrupted inferior vena cava who had developed pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas after a Kawashima procedure consisting of bilateral superior cavopulmonary anastomoses. She presented with profound cyanosis, fatigue, and failure to thrive. An operative procedure to direct hepatic vein effluent to the pulmonary circulation was performed with placement of an extracardiac conduit between the hepatic veins and the left pulmonary artery. Persistence of cyanosis led to investigation, which led to the discovery of an unintentionally excluded right hepatic vein. A percutaneous transhepatic catheter intervention was performed in which a vascular plug was implanted to occlude the "missed" right hepatic vein, redirecting the flow through intrahepatic venovenous channels to the conduit. Clinical condition and arterial oxygen saturation were substantially improved one year after the two-step hepatic vein inclusion procedure.

The Outcomes of Superior Cavopulmonary Connection Operation: a Single Center Experience.

INTRODUCTION: The superior cavopulmonary connection operation is one of the stages of the palliative surgical management for patients with functionally single ventricle. After surviving this stage, the patients are potential candidates for the final palliative procedure: the Fontan operation. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of superior cavopulmonary connection operations in our center and to identify factors affecting the survival and the progression to Fontan stage. METHODS: The outcomes of 161 patients were retrospectively analyzed after undergoing superior cavopulmonary connection operation in our center between 2005 and 2015. RESULTS: The early mortality rate was 2.5%. Five (3.1%) patients underwent takedown of the superior cavopulmonary connection. The rate of exclusion from the Fontan stage was 8.3%. Statistical analysis revealed that elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure preoperatively and the prior palliation with pulmonary artery banding were risk factors for both early mortality and takedown; however, the age, the morphology of the single ventricle and the type of operation were not considered risk factors. CONCLUSION: The superior cavopulmonary connection operation can be performed with low rate mortality and morbidity; however, the elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure preoperatively and the prior pulmonary artery banding are associated with poor outcomes.

The outcomes of superior cavopulmonary connection operation: a single center experience

Abstract Introduction: The superior cavopulmonary connection operation is one of the stages of the palliative surgical management for patients with functionally single ventricle. After surviving this stage, the patients are potential candidates for the final palliative procedure: the Fontan operation. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of superior cavopulmonary connection operations in our center and to identify factors affecting the survival and the progression to Fontan stage. Methods: The outcomes of 161 patients were retrospectively analyzed after undergoing superior cavopulmonary connection operation in our center between 2005 and 2015. Results: The early mortality rate was 2.5%. Five (3.1%) patients underwent takedown of the superior cavopulmonary connection. The rate of exclusion from the Fontan stage was 8.3%. Statistical analysis revealed that elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure preoperatively and the prior palliation with pulmonary artery banding were risk factors for both early mortality and takedown; however, the age, the morphology of the single ventricle and the type of operation were not considered risk factors. Conclusion: The superior cavopulmonary connection operation can be performed with low rate mortality and morbidity; however, the elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure preoperatively and the prior pulmonary artery banding are associated with poor outcomes.

Anastomose cavo-pulmonar associada ao suporte circulatório esquerdo comparada à assistência biventricular na falência cardíaca aguda / Cavo-pulmonary anastomosis associated with left ventricular in comparison with biventricular circulatory support in acute heart failure

OBJETIVO: Este estudo avaliou o desempenho hemodinâmico e as alterações miocárdicas decorrentes do emprego de dispositivos de assistência ventricular esquerda (DAVE), associado ou não à descompressão do ventrículo direito por meio de derivação cavo-pulmonar, sendo esses achados comparados ao emprego de assistência circulatória biventricular. MÉTODOS: Vinte e um suínos foram submetidos à indução de insuficiência cardíaca através de fibrilação ventricular, sendo a atividade circulatória mantida por DAVE durante 180 minutos. No grupo controle, foi apenas implantado o DAVE. No grupo derivação, além do DAVE foi realizada cirurgia de derivação cavo-pulmonar. No grupo biventricular, foi instituída assistência biventricular. Foram monitoradas as pressões intracavitárias por 3 horas de assistência e amostras do endocárdio dos dois ventrículos foram coletadas e analisadas à microscopia óptica e eletrônica. RESULTADOS: O lactato sérico foi significativamente menor no grupo biventricular (P=0,014). A diferença observada entre o fluxo do DAVE nos grupos derivação e controle (+55±14 ml/kg/min, P=0,072) não foi significativa, enquanto que o fluxo no grupo biventricular foi significativamente maior (+93±17 ml/kg/min, P=0,012) e se manteve estável durante o experimento. A pressão arterial média (PAM) se manteve constante apenas no grupo biventricular (P<0,001), que também apresentou diminuição significativa das pressões em câmaras direitas. Na análise ultraestrutural, notou-se menor presença edema miocárdico no ventrículo direito no grupo biventricular (P=0,017). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados apresentados demonstram que o desempenho hemodinâmico da assistência ventricular esquerda associada à derivação cavo-pulmonar, neste modelo experimental, não foi superior ao observado com a assistência de ventrículo esquerdo isolada e não substituiu a assistência biventricular de maneira efetiva.

OBJECTIVE: Right ventricular (RV) failure during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support can result in severe hemodynamic compromise with high mortality. This study investigated the acute effects of cavo-pulmonary anastomosis on LVAD performance and RV myocardial compromise in comparison with biventricular circulatory support, in a model of biventricular failure. METHODS: LVAD support was performed by centrifugal pump in 21 pigs with severe biventricular failure obtained by FV induction. Animals were randomized to be submitted to cavo-pulmonary anastomosis, to biventricular circulatory support or to control group. They were maintained under circulatory support and hemodynamic monitoring for 3h. Venous lactate and cytokines serum levels were also obtained. Endocardium samples were analyzed by electronic microscopy. RESULTS: FV maintenance was responsible for acute LVAD impairment after 180 min in the control group. cavo-pulmonary anastomosis resulted in non-significant improvement of LVAD pump flow in relation to control group (+55±14 ml/kg/min, P=0.072), while animals under biventricular support maintained higher LVAD flow (+93±17 ml/kg/min, P=0.012). Mean arterial pressure remained constant only in biventricular group (P<0.001), which also presented decrease of right atrial and ventricular pressures. Similar increases in lactate and cytokines levels were observed in the three groups. Ultra-structural analysis documented low levels of myocardial swelling in the biventricular group (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: The concomitant use of cavo-pulmonary anastomosis during LVAD support in a pig model of severe biventricular failure resulted in non-significant improvement of hemodynamic performance and it did not effectively replace the use of biventricular support.

Cavo-pulmonary anastomosis associated with left ventricular in comparison with biventricular circulatory support in acute heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: Right ventricular (RV) failure during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support can result in severe hemodynamic compromise with high mortality. This study investigated the acute effects of cavo-pulmonary anastomosis on LVAD performance and RV myocardial compromise in comparison with biventricular circulatory support, in a model of biventricular failure. METHODS: LVAD support was performed by centrifugal pump in 21 pigs with severe biventricular failure obtained by FV induction. Animals were randomized to be submitted to cavo-pulmonary anastomosis, to biventricular circulatory support or to control group. They were maintained under circulatory support and hemodynamic monitoring for 3h. Venous lactate and cytokines serum levels were also obtained. Endocardium samples were analyzed by electronic microscopy. RESULTS: FV maintenance was responsible for acute LVAD impairment after 180 min in the control group. cavo-pulmonary anastomosis resulted in non-significant improvement of LVAD pump flow in relation to control group (+55±14 ml/kg/min, P=0.072), while animals under biventricular support maintained higher LVAD flow (+93±17 ml/kg/min, P=0.012). Mean arterial pressure remained constant only in biventricular group (P<0.001), which also presented decrease of right atrial and ventricular pressures. Similar increases in lactate and cytokines levels were observed in the three groups. Ultra-structural analysis documented low levels of myocardial swelling in the biventricular group (P=0.017). CONCLUSION: The concomitant use of cavo-pulmonary anastomosis during LVAD support in a pig model of severe biventricular failure resulted in non-significant improvement of hemodynamic performance and it did not effectively replace the use of biventricular support.

Intracardiac cavopulmonary connection in patients with univentricular heart using intra-atrial lateral tunnel and intra-atrial conduit techniques.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we analyzed the time course of hemodynamic efficiency and follow-up in Fontan candidates who underwent the bidirectional Glenn procedure for staged intracardiac cavopulmonary connection (ICPC). METHODS: Between 1991 and 2008, 52 patients with univentricular heart (mean age, 3.3 years; range, 2-8 years; 27 female patients [51.9%]) underwent ICPC. The cardiac malformations were as follows: tricuspid atresia, 25 cases (48.0%); common ventricle, 16 cases (30.7%); and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, 11 cases (21.1%). The intracardiac cavopulmonary procedure was indicated for all 52 cases. In 42 patients (80.7%), an intra-atrial lateral tunnel was constructed with a bovine pericardium patch. In the last 10 consecutive cases (19.3%), we performed a modified surgical technique in which we implanted an intra-atrial corrugated bovine pericardium tube sutured around the superior and inferior vena cava ostium. In all cases, a 4-mm fenestration was made to reduce the intratunnel pressure. All 52 patients had previously undergone a Glenn operation. RESULTS: There were 2 hospital deaths (3.8%) and no recorded late deaths. During the follow-up, all patients were medicated with antiplatelet drugs. To evaluate the hemodynamic performance, we used Doppler echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic nuclear resonance studies. There were no prosthesis thromboses during this followup period. To evaluate cardiac arrhythmias, we conducted a Holter study. The last 10 patients with an intra-atrial conduit (IAC) presented with sinus rhythm and no arrhythmias during the last 4 years. The 50 surviving patients (96.1%) have been followed up for 6 to 204 months; all these patients are free of reoperation. CONCLUSION: The Glenn operation, which is performed at an early age, prepares the pulmonary bed to receive the ICPC. The midterm results of the intracardiac Fontan procedure seem to be good. The modified surgical procedure (IAC) can be a good alternative technique to the Fontan procedure in suitable patients.

Cavopulmonary anastomosis improves left ventricular assist device support in acute biventricular failure.

OBJECTIVE: Right ventricular failure during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support can result in severe hemodynamic compromise with high mortality. This study investigated the acute effects of cavopulmonary anastomosis on right ventricular loading and LVAD performance in a model of severe biventricular failure. METHODS: LVAD support was performed by means of centrifugal pump implantation in 14 anesthetized dogs (20-30 kg) with severe biventricular failure obtained by ventricular fibrillation induction. Animals were randomized to be submitted to classical cavopulmonary anastomosis (Glenn shunt) or to control group and were maintained under LVAD support for 2h. Left and right atrial, right ventricular and systemic pressures were monitored, while total pulmonary flow was simultaneously recorded by transonic flowmeters located on the superior vena cava and pulmonary trunk. Blood gas and venous lactate determinations were also obtained. RESULTS: Ventricular fibrillation maintenance resulted in acute LVAD performance impairment after 90 min in the control group, while animals with Glenn circuit maintained normal LVAD pump flow (55+/-13 ml kg(-1)min(-1) vs 21+/-4 ml kg(-1)min(-1), p<0.001) and better peripheral perfusion (blood lactate of 29+/-10 pg/ml vs 46+/-9 pg/ml, p<0.001). Left and right atrial pressures did not change significantly, while right ventricular pressure was lower in animals with Glenn circuit (13+/-3 mm Hg vs 22+/-8 mm Hg, p=0.005). Right ventricular unloading with Glenn shunt also resulted in superior total pulmonary flow (59+/-13 ml kg(-1)min(-1) vs 17+/-3 ml kg(-1)min(-1), p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The concomitant use of cavopulmonary anastomosis during LVAD support in a model of severe biventricular failure limited right ventricular overloading and resulted in better hemodynamic performance.

A Gore-Tex 'new-innominate' vein: a surgical option for complicated bilateral cavopulmonary shunts.

A bilateral bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt was performed in a cyanotic 14-month-old girl who had tricuspid and pulmonary valve atresia, with right pulmonary artery (RPA) hypoplasia (3 mm), bilateral superior vena cavae and a ductus arteriosus-dependent pulmonary blood flow. Because of 62% postoperative arterial oxygen saturation and a right superior vena cava (RSVC) pressure of 30 mmHg, a 5 mm Gore-Tex tube was interposed to connect the two superior venae cavae. The creation of a 'new-innominate' vein allowed decompression of the right superior vena cava and an increase in arterial oxygen saturation to 86%.

Fontan operation and the cavopulmonary technique: immediate and late results according to the presence of atrial fenestration.

OBJECTIVE: To compare immediate and late results in patients with or without fenestration who underwent cavopulmonary anastomosis so that we could assess the efficiency of the technique. METHODS: Sixty-two patients underwent surgery between 1988 and 1999, 41 with fenestration (group I -G I) and 21 without fenestration (group II -G II). Tricuspid atresia was prevalent in group I (23-56%) and single ventricle was prevalent in group II (14-66%). Mean ages at the time of operation were 7.3 years in group I and 7.6 in group II. At late follow-up, mean ages were 10.6 years in group I and 12.8 years in group II. RESULTS: Immediate and late mortality were 7.3% in G-I and 4.7% in G-II. Significant pleural effusion occurred in 41.4% of G-I patients and in 23.8% of G-II patients. Significant pericardial effusion occurred in 29.2% and 14.2%, respectively, in groups I and II. Central venous pressure was greater in G-II, 17.7 cm in H2O, as opposed to 15 cm in G-I. Hospital stay was similar between the groups, 26.3 and 21.8 days, respectively. Cyanosis and arterial insaturation occurred in 5 patients, and 4 patients were in functional class II, all from G-I. At late follow-up, 58 (93.5%) were in functional class I. Sinus rhythm was present in 94%, and pulmonary perfusion was similar in both groups. Eleven patients who underwent spirometry had good tolerance to physical effort. CONCLUSION: Atrial fenestration did not improve the immediate or late follow-up of patients who underwent cavopulmonary anastomosis, and is, therefore, dispensable.

[Fontan procedure: early and mid-term results with total cavopulmonary anastomosis]. / Operación de Fontan: resultados inmediatos y a mediano plazo con anastomosis cavopulmonar total.

BACKGROUND: During the last five years, 65 patients with univentricular heart have been treated surgically in our institution, according to a protocol of staged operations that have been previously reported. AIM: To evaluate the early and mid-term outcome of those patients that have completed their staging protocol by means of a Fontan procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1996 and June 2001, 23 patients (age 16 to 223 months) underwent a Fontan procedure, 15 with an intracardiac lateral tunnel technique and 8 with an extracardiac conduit. A retrospective review of their clinical, surgical, echocardiographic, angiographic and hemodynamic data was performed, trying to identify risk factors for both mortality and functional capacity (FC). Follow up was complete in all survivors. RESULTS: Three patients died early after surgery (13.04%). Excessive pulmonary blood flow was a risk factor for early death (p = 0.03). One patient died at 14 months. Follow up was 29.9 months (1-63). For those who survived the operation, five years survival was 93.3%. The majority of patients are in FC I or II, with no related risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our current results are comparable with those of larger series. Patients reach good FC and mid-term survival, irrespective of type of single ventricle or the surgical strategy.

Cirurgias paliativas nas cardiopatias congênitas / Palliative surgery in the congenital heart disease

As cirurgias paliativas desempenham papel importante no manejo dos pacientes portadores de diversas cardiopatias congênitas. A utilização desses processos usualmente é de baixo risco, prepara pra a correção definitiva tardiamente e permite melhor sobrevida àqueles em que tal correção não é possível.Existem várias técnicas paliativas em cirurgia cardiovascular, dentre as quais as mais comumente utilizadas são: shunts sistêmicos-pulmonares (Balock-Taussig clássico e modificado, Potts, e Waterston-Cooley), anastomose cavopulmonar parcial (cirurgia de Glenn), bandagem da artéria pulmonar, septectomia cirúrgica, fístula arteriovenosa axilar e cirurgia de Norwood...

Estudo angiográfico comparativo da artéria pulmonar no pré e pós-operatório de pacientes submetidos a operaçäo de derivaçäo cavopulmonar bidirecional / Comparative angiographic study of the pulmonary artery in pre and postoperative period in patients submitted to bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt surgery

INTRODUÇÄO: Este trabalho analisou as alteraçöes nos diâmetros da artéria pulmonar (AP) após a derivaçäo cavopulmonar bilateral (DCPB). CASUíSTICA E MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 18 pacientes submetidos a DCPB, no período de março de 1990 a janeiro de 1997, que possuíam exames cineangiográficos disponíveis no período pré e pós-operatório. As medidas da AP direita e esquerda foram realizadas em três locais: na origem, imediatamente antes da bifurcaçäo e no início da artéria do lobo inferior. Em seguida, os diâmetros de cada local foram indexados à superfície corpórea ou ao diâmetro da aorta, medido na altura do diafragma. Os dados angiográficos e oximétricos foram submetidos a análise estatística. RESULTADOS: Quando analisados os diâmetros absolutos observou-se que a maioria sofreu aumento näo-significante, no período pós-operatório, ao passo que o diâmetro II da AP esquerda apresentou diminuiçäo. Os índices totais I e III apresentaram diminuiçäo significante, no período pós-operatório, e no índice total II a reduçäo näo foi significante. A análise da variável seguimento pós-operatório demonstrou reduçäo significativa dos índices totais nos pacientes com seguimento pós-operatório inferior a 23,6 meses. A presença de fluxo sangüíneo adicional determinou o aumento dos índices AP direita II e III, e pequena reduçäo nos outros índices. As medidas da AP indexadas pelo diâmetro da aorta revelaram comportamento semelhante à indexaçäo pela superfície corpórea. Na ausência de circulaçäo venosa colateral (CVC) observou-se aumento significante da saturaçäo de O2, por outro lado, a sua presença determinou um aumento näo-significante, durante o período de observaçäo

Cirurgias paliativas em cardiopatias congênitas / Palleative congenital cardiac operations: indications and surgical techniques

O artigo aborda os tipos e a idade na qual os procedimentos paliativos podem ser indicados em defeitos cardíacos congênitos. Podem ser classificados como paliativos temporários ou paliativos definitivos. Suas aplicações dependem da estratégia cirúrgica de cada grupo

[Evaluation of the complications of different types of right ventricular bypass by contrast echocardiography]. / Evaluación de las complicaciones de los diferentes bypass del ventrículo derecho por ecocardiografía con contraste.

We evaluated 54 patients with different right heart by-pass by means of contrast echocardiography with rapid venous injection of shaken saline (3 cc, < 20 k; 6cc, > 20 k), in order to detect venous collateral circulation in partial by-pass, pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae in partial and total by-pass, and right-to-left shunt in total by-pass. Forty three patients had partial by-pass: 29 had a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis with additional pulmonary flow (systemic-pulmonary anastomosis and/or restrictive anterograde ventricular flow); 10 had a partial ventricular correction (bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis and non restrictive anterograde ventricular flow; two had classical Glenn procedures; two had Kawashima operations (bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis and non restrictive anterograde ventricular flow; two had classical Glenn procedures; two had kawashima operations (bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis with inferior vena cava interruption), and 11 with total by-pass (10 atriopulmonary anastomosis and 1 with total cavopulmonary anastomosis). The age ranged from 2.5 to 33 years (x = 12.2 years), and the mean postoperative period was 4.3 years. Venous collateral circulation: 32/43 patients (74%) with partial by-pass, specially in those without partial biventricular correction: 29/33 patients (88%) compared to those with partial biventricular correction: 3/10 (30%) p < 0.01. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae: 6/43 patients (14%) with partial by-pass; 6/33 (18%) with partial biventricular correction, 0/10 patients with partial biventricular correction, and 0/11 with total by-pass. Right-to-left shunt: 2/11 patients (18%) with total by-pass, all of them with atriopulmonary anastomosis. Contrast echocardiography is an excellent noninvasive method for the initial evaluation of specific dysfunctions of different right heart by-pass. We emphasize the higher frequency of collateral venous circulation in cavopulmonary anastomosis, that would explain the dysfunction with progressive hypoxia in the evolution of these patients. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae were detected only in partial by-pass, without partial biventricular correction (p < 0.01). The minor frequency of these fistulae in bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis would be due to additional pulmonary flow.

Evaluación de las complicaciomes de los diferentes bypass del ventrículo derecho por ecocardiografía con contraste / Assessment of the complications of different types of right ventricular by-pass by means of contrast echocardiography

Mediante ecocardiografía 2-D con contraste, por inyección venosa superior rápida de solución salina agitada (3 cc, < 20 kg y 6 cc, > 20 kg), se estudiaron 54 pacientes con diferentes bypass del ventrículo derecho, para detectar circulación colateral veno-venosa en bypass parcial y total, y cortocircuitos de derecha a izquierda en bypass total. Cuarenta y tres pacientes tenían bypass parcial: 29 tenían una anastomosis cavopulmonar bidireccional con flujo pulmonar adicional (anastomosis sistémica-pulmonar y/o flujo anterógrado ventricular restrictivo); 10 pacientes con corrección biventricular parcial, i.e., anastomosis cavopulmonar bidireccional y flujo anterógrado ventrícular no restrictivo; 2 con Glenn clásico; 2 con operación de Kawashima, i.e., anastomosis cavopulmonar bidireccional en interrupción de vena cava inferior y 11 estaban con bypass total: 10 con anastomosis atriopulmonar y 1 con anastomosis cavopulmonar total. Las edades oscilaban entre 2.5 y 33 años (promedio: 12.2 años) y el periodo de evolución postoperatorio medio fue de 4.3 años. Circulación colateral veno-venosa: 32/43 pacientes (74 por ciento) con bypass parcial; más frecuentemente sin corrección biventricular parcial: 29/33 pacientes (88 por ciento) con respecto a los que tenían corrección biventricular parcial (3/10, 30 por ciento; p < 0.01). Fístulas arteriovenosas del pulmón: 6/43 pacientes (14 por ciento) con bypass parcial; 6/33 (18 por ciento) sin corrección biventricular parcial, 0/10 con corrección biventricular parcial y 0/11 con bypass total. Cortocircuito de derecha a izquierda: 2/11 pacientes (18 por ciento) con bypass total, todos con anastomosis atriopulmonar. La ecocardiografía con contraste es un excelente método de estudio ni invasivo para valorar inicialmente disfunciones específicas de los diferentes bypass del ventrículo derecho. Se resalta la frecuencia de la CCVV en la anastomosis cavopulmonar bidireccional, causa seguramente de la disfunción con hipoxia progresiva en la evolución de estos pacientes. Las fístulas arteriovenosas del pulmón solamente se detectaron en bypass parcial (p < 0.01). Se considera que la menor frecuencia de estas fístulas en anastomosis cavopulmonar bidireccional hallada en este trabajo puede deberse a que fueron efectuadas con flujo pulmonar adicional