Outcomes of Patients After Arterial Switch Operation: 18 Years of Experience in a Single Medium-Volume Center.

The objective of this paper was to describe the outcomes in patients submitted to arterial switch operation and to analyze the predictors of in-hospital mortality and further need of re-operation at a single-center institution. Between September 1995 and January 2014, 128 consecutive arterial switch operations were performed. Surgical mortality during this period was analyzed retrospectively, and a follow-up analysis of the survivors was conducted. Surgical era, cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.001), and diagnosis category (p = 0.025) influenced in-hospital mortality. The estimated overall survival for the 91 hospital survivors was 96.8, 96.4, and 96.2 % at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. The median follow-up time was 67 months (range 0.71-222 months). Three patients (5 %) presented severe aortic regurgitation. Right ventricle outflow tract systolic gradient by echocardiography was above 60 mmHg in 2 %. Late re-interventions occurred in 12 (13 %) patients with mean time of 64 ± 34 months after the initial procedure. Actuarial freedom from re-interventions at 5, 10, and 15 years was 96.4, 69.7, and 61.9 %, respectively. Arterial switch operation remains the procedure of choice in patients with transposition of great arteries. It can be performed even in middle-volume institutions, leading to the same middle- and long-term outcomes of high-volume institutions. Early high mortality rate may occur due not only to learning curve, but also to cardiopulmonary bypass time and ventricular septal defect closure.

Hipoplasia congênita isolada do ventrículo direito / Congenital isolated hypoplasia of the right ventricle

Two cases of congenital trabecular hypoplasia of the right ventricle are reported. In the first, the neonatal diagnosis was missed and the child did well until the 13th month of life when a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was done because of increasing cyanosis. Outcome was good until the 4th year of life when symptomatic atrioventricular block was detected in an emergency situation. A bidirectional Glenn anastomosis and pacemaker implantation were successfully carried out after clinical establization and the child is doing well up to now. The second case presents the disease with its worst features: severe cyanosis and acidosis in the first day of life. A modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was performed and death occurred soon after the operation.

Seguimento tardio após correçäo de coarctaçäo da aorta: reintervençäo cirúrgica subsequente / Long-Term Follow-up After Correction of Coarctation of the Aorta. Subsequent Surgical Procedures

PURPOSE--To determine the frequency and main features of subsequent cardiovascular surgery in patients operated on for coarctation of the thoracic aorta. METHODS--One hundred and five patients operated on for coarctation of the aorta with a mean follow-up period of 14 years had their notes analysed. The patients were divided in 4 groups according to age at correction of the coarctation. The incidence of recoarctation repair and other cardiovascular operations were noted. RESULTS--Surgical morbidity was important: 33 per cent . Recoarctation occurred in 14 per cent of the cases, mainly in those who had the coarctation resected during the first year of life. Operation for other cardiovascular defects was necessary in 24.5 per cent of the cases. Among these, correction of left-to-right shunts was done in 50 per cent of the patients who had the coarctation resected in the first year of life. Relief of aortic stenosis was the most frequent procedure (73 per cent ), tends to be more frequent the other is the patient at coarctation repair and more than one procedure may be necessary in some cases. CONCLUSION--Reoperation is frequent in the long term of patients operated on for coarctation of the aorta. The elective coarctation should be repaired after the first year of life hoping to avoid recoarctation. Routine follow-up is advisable for all patients aiming to detect residual left-to-right shunts and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. Family counseling regarding prognosis after coarctation resection is recommended

Fístula artério-venosa congênita entre a artéria e veia subclávia: correçäo cirúrgica favorável em um lactente / Congenital Subclavian Artery-to-vein Fistula. Successful Surgical Correction in an Infant

Criança de 6 meses de idade, assintomática, atendida, inicialmente, devido a edema localizado do membro superior direito. Um sopro contínuo, audível na região infra-clavicular direita, cardiomegalia e hiperfluxo pulmonar estavam associados com uma fístula única entre a artéria e a veia subclávia direita diagnosticada pela angiografia. Ligadura cirúrgica da fístula foi realizada com sucesso, havendo normalização do diâmetro do membro e da área cardíaca do tórax 4 anos após cirurgia

The case of an asymptomatic 6 month-old-boy, first seen due to a right arm edema is described. A continuous murmur heard at the right infraclavicular area, cardiomegaly plus increased flow to the lungs on the chest X-ray were associated with an isolated right subclavian artery-to-vein fistula diagnosed at angiography. Successful ligation of the fistula was done at operation with normalization of the arm circunference and heart size on the chest X-rav at 4 years follow up