Low Back Pain (LBP), work and absenteeism.

BACKGROUND: Occupational physical demands are commonly assumed the cause of work-related Low Back Pain (LBP) and absenteeism. OBJECTIVES: To analyse relationships between LBP at work, physical demands and absenteeism. METHODS: Workers filled out a questionnaire on socio-demographic and work-related factors, general health, LBP (number of episodes in a 12-month period, pain severity and intensity), and occupational hazards related with physical demands. RESULTS: 735 workers completed the questionnaire (male n = 359). A high proportion of workers n = 507 (69%), from different occupational backgrounds, reported at least one LBP episode in the previous 12-month period. The highest ratio of subjects with more than 6 episodes of LBP per year was found among public services employees (31.8%) and the lowest ratio among administrative workers (10.3%). The highest ratio of workers (39%) were classified as sedentary workers, 34% of workers having a low or moderate level of physical demands in their work, and 27% reported high levels of physical demands in their work. There was a 4 % absenteeism rate in a 12-month period, which was significantly higher in the group with physically demanding work. Those subjects with higher physical requirements at work have increased odds of having more than 3 episodes of LBP during the previous year (p < 0.05) in comparison with subjects with more sedentary jobs and those with low or moderate physical demands. High intensity work, compared to sedentary work, is associated with an increased probability of being absent of work because of LBP in a previous 12-month period (OR = 3.12; CI 1.23-7.89; p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest there is an association between highly physically demanding jobs, LBP and absenteeism. These results may contribute to the improvement of LBP assessment and prevention programs in Occupational Health Services.

Establishment of heart teams in Portugal.

Whenever several therapeutic options exist, multidisciplinary decision-making is beneficial for the patient and for society at large. The main obstacles to the establishment of heart teams in Portugal are organizational and logistical. Implementing a heart team approach entails definition of the situations requiring multidisciplinary discussion, creation of clear lines of communication, written protocols and obtaining patient informed consent. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines define the clinical scenarios where intervention of the heart team is recommended.

[Right postero-lateral thoracotomy for open heart surgery in infants and children. Indications and results]. / Thoracotomie postéro-latérale droite pour la chirurgie à coeur ouvert chez l'enfant. Indications et résultats.

In order to avoid the aesthetic prejudice of median sternotomy in young children undergoing open heart surgery for isolated congenital heart disease, a right posterolateral thoracotomy was performed in 146 children aged 5 months to 14 years. The large majority (140/146, 96%) were atrial septal defects: 130 ostium secundum, 5 sinus venosus, 1 low septal defect and 4 ostium primum (partial endocardial cushion defect). Six children had isolated perimembranous ventricular septal defects. One patient died of a probable lesional pulmonary oedema. Minor complications were observed in 15 cases and one had to be reoperated for a residual shunt. With an average follow-up of 2.6 years, all survivors are asymptomatic. The scar is normal, without cheloid or thoracic deformation, invisible to the patient when he looks in a mirror. The use of this approach requires a very accurate anatomical diagnosis, especially with regards to systemic and pulmonary drainage. The presence of a left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus is a contra-indication. The right posterolateral thoracotomy is now the approach of choice in its standard indication, the repair of ostium secundum atrial septal defects with large shunts, in young girls under 10 years of age.

[Mitral valvuloplasty for asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic mitral insufficiency]. / Valvuloplastie mitrale pour insuffisance mitrale asymptomatique ou paucisymptomatique.

The aim of this study was to assess the results of mitral valvuloplasty for chronic asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic mitral regurgitation. Of 584 patients operated for chronic mitral regurgitation between January 1989 and December 1994, 175 were in NYHA Classes I and II and made up the study population. All had chronic grade 3 or 4/4 mitral regurgitation suitable for mitral valvuloplasty. The average follow-up was 34.3 months. Mitral valvuloplasty was performed in 174 patients, the other patient requiring mitral valve replacement. Three patients died (1.7%) and the actuarial 5 year survival was 98.2 +/- 1.0%. The probability of absence of reoperation and absence of thrombo-embolic complications at 5 years were 97 +/- 0.8% and 96.3 +/- 1.7% respectively. The residual regurgitation at Doppler echocardiography was minimal or absent in 94% of patients at the last follow-up control. The mean end-systolic and end-diastolic left ventricular dimensions decreased from 40.0 +/- 6.8 mm and 64.8 +/- 7.0 mm before surgery to 34.6 +/- 6.7 mm (p < 0.001) and 52.7 +/- 7.4 mm (p < 0.001) at the last control. The authors conclude that conservative mitral valve surgery for NYHA Classes I and II patients with chronic mitral regurgitation is feasible with a low risk and is associated with a significant reduction in ventricular volumes and stability of valvular continence at medium-term. When performed by teams trained in techniques of mitral valvuloplasty, these results suggest that surgery should be performed early.

Modified superior approach for repair of supracardiac and mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage.

BACKGROUND: The main goal in the surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage is to reestablish a wide patent connection between the common pulmonary vein and the left atrium. Several techniques have been proposed for achieving this objective, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. The superior approach between the superior vena cava and the ascending aorta was introduced in 1976 for the repair of supracardiac forms of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, but it often provides a less than optimum exposure, particularly in tiny infants. We proposed a modification of this approach that includes division of the ascending aorta and offers excellent exposure. METHODS: Seventeen patients (15 neonates and 2 infants) with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (n = 13) or mixed forms of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (n = 4) underwent surgical repair with the use of the modified superior approach. Circulatory arrest was not required in 10 patients and the mean cross-clamp time was 32.5 +/- 13.8 minutes. RESULTS: There was 1 postoperative death resulting from intractable pulmonary hypertension in a compromised infant who was referred to our unit receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. One patient with common hypoplasia underwent reoperation twice at 2 months and then 3 months after the first procedure. All the other patients had a smooth postoperative course, and midterm evaluation showed a widely patent anastomosis between the common vein and the left atrium. CONCLUSIONS: The modified superior approach for the repair of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage can be useful to enhance exposure during surgical repair and may contribute to improved patient outcome.

[Initial results of mitral valvuloplasty using the Physio-Carpentier-Edwards ring]. / Résultats préliminaires de la plastie mitrale avec l'anneau physio-carpentier-edwards.

The Physio-Carpentier-Edwards ring is a new prosthetic ring developed to allow mitral annuloplasty associating remodelling and flexibility of the native mitral annulus. The object of this study was to assess the feasibility and reliability of mitral valvuloplasty with the Physio ring. Between December 1992 and October 1995, 100 patients with an average age of 56.8 years suffering from mitral insufficiency underwent mitral valvuloplasty with a Physio ring. The mitral insufficiency was degenerative in 94% of cases. The degree of regurgitation was scored 3+ or 4/+4/+ in 94 patients. Mitral valve prolapse was observed in 83 patients. Mitral reconstruction was undertaken using Carpentier's techniques. One patient died in the immediate postoperative period. Two patients were reoperated for valve replacement because of systolic anterior motion (SAM). One patient had SAM which regressed with medical treatment. There were no deaths after the hospital period. There were no late reoperations of thrombo-embolic complications. The average follow-up period was 19 +/- 8 months; 77 patients were followed up for over 1 year and all underwent control Doppler echocardiography. Sixty-one patients had no residual mitral insufficiency: 15 patients had grade 1/4 regurgitation and one patient had grade 2/4 regurgitation. The average mitral valve surface area was 2.8 +/- 0.3 cm2. The average left ventricular end diastolic volume decreased from 186 +/- 59 cm3 before surgery to 129 +/- 37 cm3 at the last control (p < 0.001). The authors conclude that the Physio ring enables reliable and effective mitral valvuloplasty with excellent short term results. The benefits of the flexibility of the Physio ring remain to be evaluated by a randomised trial.

[Coronary revascularization by arterial bypasses: advantages, disadvantages]. / La revascularisation coronaire par pontages artériels: advantages, inconvénients.

Coronary vein grafts are frequently become occluded or develop atherosclerotic lesions in the long-term. In contrast, the internal mammary artery has a very satisfactory long-term patency rate. The use of an internal mammary artery on the LAD consequently increases the benefit of coronary surgery. The benefit of using 2 internal mammary arteries or other arterial grafts for coronary artery bypass surgery is more controversial. The advantages and disadvantages of the various coronary artery grafts are reported together with the clinical experience of several teams in this area. Coronary artery surgery should be reserved to patients with a good general condition, who are likely to benefit from this type of revascularization. The right internal mammary artery is unsuitable for revascularization of the right coronary network and the two internal mammary arteries must be used to revascularize the left coronary network, in order to obtain a good result. However, surgeons must be aware of the limitations of coronary artery surgery and these techniques should be used cautiously.

[Secondary subaortic obstruction after correction of double outlet right ventricle. Echocardiographic aspects and surgical findings]. / Obstruction sous-aortique secondaire après cure de ventricule droit à double issue. Aspects échocardiographiques et confrontation chirurgicale.

The authors report echocardiographic appearances of subaortic obstruction secondary to correction of double outlet right ventricle in 8 children reoperated between January 1994 and June 1996. The initial repair of the double outlet right ventricule was performed before 3 months of age in 6 cases. Forms with subaortic ventricular septal defects (4 cases) and those with ventricular septal defects not connected to the great arteries (2 cases) were treated by tunneling between the left ventricule and the aorta, and forms with subpulmonary ventricular septal defects (2 cases) by tunneling between the left ventricle and pulmonary artery and detransposition. Reoperation for subaortic obstruction was performed after 18 to 33 months. The instantaneous maximal gradient measured by Doppler echocardiography was high, ranging from 60 to 145 mmHg. The causes of the secondary subaortic obstruction were stenosis of the tunneling patch (n = 2), subaortic fibrous ring (n = 3), muscular septal hypertrophy (n = 1), antero-lateral muscular hypertrophy (n = 1), relics of tricuspid tissue inserted on the infundibular septum (n = 1). Subaortic obstruction was diagnosed in the echocardiographic subcostal views in all cases; the nature of the obstruction was determined in 6 of the 8 cases. The mechanism of obstruction by stenosis of the tunneling patch was only detected in 1 of the 2 cases. This study show, 2D echocardiography to be the investigation of choice for follow-up of operated double outlet right ventricle for the diagnosis of secondary subaortic obstruction.

Surgical management of atrio ventricular septal defects with normal caryotype.

OBJECTIVE: Atrio ventricular septal defects (AVSD) with normal caryotype represent in average 25% of AVSD. They constitute a more complex group of patients characterized by frequent left sided heart obstructive lesions, raising the problem of the appropriate indications between biventricular and univentricular procedures. METHODS: Sixty-nine consecutive patients, who had AVSD with normal caryotype underwent surgery. According to the anatomical complexity there were 22 intermediate AVSD, 36 complete AVSD and 11 complex AVSD. Associated lesions were present in 68% of the patients including left sided heart anomalies in 57%. According to the size of the left ventricle (LV) evaluated on the LV/RV end diastolic diameter ratio calculated at 2D echocardiogram: right ventricular (RV) dominance was found in 29%; with border line LV in 13 patients and truly hypoplastic LV in 7 patients. Biventricular repair was always favored in case of border line LV and precluded when the LV/RV ratio was less than 0.33. RESULTS: There were 57 biventricular repairs with 10 years actuarial survival of 70 +/- 8% and respectively, 100% in the complex AVSD, 86% in the intermediate AVSD and 51% in the complete AVSD (P = 0.006). The risk factors for biventricular repair were the association to a subaortic stenosis (P = 0.01) and the severity of the mitral valve lesions (P = 0.03) that led to 38% reoperation. There were 12 univentricular palliation with 10 years survival of 66 +/- 14%. The risk factor for univentricular palliation was the association to a severe pre-operative mitral regurgitation (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Biventricular repair should be precluded in patients presenting with subaortic stenosis. Severe mitral valve anomalies lead to elevated mortality and morbidity with frequent reoperations. Univentricular repair might have larger indications and cardiac transplantation might be considered in patients with truly hypoplastic LV presenting with severe pre-operative AV valve regurgitation.

Repair of interrupted aortic arch: a ten-year experience.

Eighty-two consecutive patients with interrupted aortic arch were referred to our institution between 1985 and 1995. Three died before any attempt at operation and 79 underwent surgical repair. Median age at operation was 9 days (range 1 day to 6 years) and median weight was 3.0 kg (range 1.8 to 20 kg). All but one were in severe congestive heart failure and 31.5% had oliguria or anuria. Preoperative pH varied between 6.8 and 7.4 (median 7.3). Sixty-nine received prostaglandin E1 infusion and 54 received mechanical ventilation. Aggressive preoperative ressucitation was necessary in 43 cases. Preoperative transfontanellar echography (performed routinely) since 1987 revealed intracerebral bleeding in six patients. Type A interrupted aortic arch was present in 37 cases, 41 patients had type B, and one had type C. Interrupted aortic arch was associated with single ventricular septal defect in 35 cases, 24 patients had associated complex heart defects, and 30 had significant subaortic stenosis (six had both subaortic stenosis and complex association). Aortopulmonary window was found in four patients, truncus arteriosus was found in eight, and transposition of the great arteries was found in five, double-outlet right ventricle was found in one, single ventricle was found in three, multiple ventricular septal defects were found in two and superior-inferior ventricles were found in one. Sixty-four patients underwent single-stage repair and 15 underwent multistage repair. Aortic arch repair consisted of direct anastomosis in 59 cases, patch augmentation in eight, and conduit interposition in 12. Ten patients underwent associated pulmonary artery banding and 19 underwent concomitant repair of complex associated lesions. The subaortic stenosis was addressed by four surgical techniques: myotomy or myectomy in five patients; creation of a double-outlet left ventricle, aortopulmonary anastomosis, and conduit insertion between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery bifurcation in four; no direct attempt to relieve the subaortic stenosis in six; and left-sided ventricular septal defect patch in 15. Mean duration of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, crossclamp time, and cardiopulmonary bypass time were 38.8 +/- 15.6 min, 60.5 +/- 24.7 min, and 143 +/- 40.1 min, respectively. Postoperative mortality rate was 18.9% (70% confidence limits 14% to 24.6%), and overall mortality rate was 31% (70% confidence limits 20.9% to 42.2%). The results have improved with time, with an overall operative mortality rate of 12% since 1990. Univariate statistical analysis revealed that early survival was influenced by preoperative renal function, detection of cerebral bleeding by transfontanellar echography, the number of cardioplegic injections, and the date of operation. Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative renal function and the number of cardioplegic injections were independent risk factors for early mortality. Echocardiographic measurements of the left heart-aorta complex with preoperative Z values as low as-4 demonstrated rapid growth after repair. In the presence of subaortic stenosis, better survival was obtained with a left-sided patch for ventricular septal defect closure (p < 0.05). Twenty-three patients underwent 26 reoperations for recoarctations (seven), left bronchial compression (two), second-stage repair (eight), right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit replacement (three), and miscellaneous (four). One of the survivors was reoperated on for subaortic membrane. Survival at 5 years for the entire series was 70%. For isolated forms, it was 73.5% (90% for 1990 to 1995), for complex forms it was 70%, and in the presence of subaortic stenosis it was 60%. In conclusion, interrupted aortic arch remains a surgical challenge with continually improving results. Early diagnosis with preoperative resuscitation and adequate myocardial protection seem extremely important for further improvements. Associated subaortic stenosis or complex lesions

Surgical treatment of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review the risk-benefit ratio of mitral valve repair in patients with severe mitral regurgitation and no or mild symptoms. METHODS: From January 1989 to December 1994, 584 patients were operated on for mitral regurgitation. Of these, 175 patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II with grade 3 to 4 isolated chronic mitral regurgitation. They comprise our study population. Mean age was 51.3 +/- 14.3 years. Principal causes of mitral regurgitation were degenerative in 128 (73%) and rheumatic in 26 patients (15%). Leaflet prolapse was the mechanism responsible for regurgitation in 152 patients (86%). Mitral valve repair was performed in 174 patients, and one patient required initial valve replacement. Mean follow-up was 34.3 +/- 18.8 months. RESULTS: Three patients died, for an overall mortality of 1.7%. Five patients were reoperated on, for an actuarial freedom from reoperation of 97.0% +/- 0.8% at 5 years. Actuarial freedom from thromboembolism and endocarditis was 96.3% +/- 1.7% and 99.4% +/- 0.6%, respectively, for an event-free survival of 91.0% +/- 2.0% at 5 years. Left atrial diameter decreased from 54.3 +/- 11.6 mm to 43.6 +/- 10.5 mm (p < 0.001). Left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic diameters decreased from 40.0 +/- 6.8 mm and 64.8 +/- 7.0 mm to 34.6 +/- 6.7 mm (p < 0.001) and 52.7 +/- 7.4 mm (p < 0.001), respectively. Mean residual mitral regurgitation was 0.44 +/- 0.6. CONCLUSION: Mitral valve repair for chronic mitral regurgitation in patients having mild or no symptoms was performed with low mortality and morbidity, good valve function, and preserved late left ventricular performance. Early repair may be advocated on the basis of severity of regurgitation and valve repairability, regardless of symptoms.

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome: surgical treatment and considerations.

BACKGROUND: The operative management of absent pulmonary valve syndrome remains controversial regarding the need for pulmonary valve implantation and remodeling of pulmonary arteries. Moreover, symptomatic infants are considered to have a poor prognosis. This retrospective report summarizes the experience of a single institution. METHODS: Between May 1977 and May 1995, 37 consecutive patients underwent repair of absent pulmonary valve syndrome. Patients were divided into two groups according to age at operation: group A (10 infants less than 1 year old) and group B (27 patients older than 1 year). Mean age at operation was 5 +/- 4 months in group A and 72 +/- 42 months in group B. Initially, repair consisted of ventricular septal defect closure and relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction combined with pulmonary valve implantation. More recently, the concept of treatment has evolved with pulmonary arterioplasty without pulmonary valve insertion, except in patients with elevated pulmonary artery pressure. RESULTS: Of the 37 patients, 34 had successful repair. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 8% (two deaths in group A and one in group B). No hemodynamic data were correlated with operative death. Death was associated with longer extracorporeal circulation time (p = 0.005) and longer aortic cross-clamping time (p = 0.019). In fact, these were clearly related to more complex anatomy (p = 0.001): multiple ventricular septal defects in 1, left pulmonary artery arising from the ductus in another, and left pulmonary artery arising from the aorta in the remainder. Follow-up was available in 22 of the 34 survivors. Mean follow-up time was 30 +/- 47 months in group A and 38 +/- 33 months in group B. All but 1 had no restriction of exercise, and most of them had pulmonary incompetence of Doppler echocardiography. One developed severe exercise intolerance because of pulmonary valve stenosis (xenograft), leading to uneventful reoperation 123 months after initial repair. One infant died suddenly of complete atrioventricular block 3 months after repair. The late mortality rate was 5%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of absent pulmonary valve syndrome should include pulmonary arterioplasty to reduce bronchial obstruction, with no need for pulmonary valve insertion. This procedure is feasible and is recommended especially in markedly symptomatic infants.

Aortico-left ventricular tunnel in fetuses and infants.

BACKGROUND: Aortico-left ventricular tunnel is a rare congenital abnormal communication between the aorta and the left ventricle presenting in early childhood as aortic regurgitation and cardiac failure. This condition has rarely been reported in fetuses. Operation is the only treatment, and postoperative aortic incompetence could be related to the age or the type of repair. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, two-institution review, from 1983 to 1995, of aortico-left ventricular tunnel diagnosed in utero and before 6 months of age. RESULTS: Three cases of aortico-left ventricular tunnel were diagnosed in utero by Doppler echocardiography between 22 and 24 weeks' gestation. Prenatal aortico-left ventricular tunnel was associated with severe left ventricular dysfunction, aortic valve anomalies, and fetal hydrops. One death occurred in utero and one immediately after birth, and in 1 case pregnancy was interrupted. In these 3 cases the diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy. Three neonates and 2 infants had the diagnosis of aortico-left ventricular tunnel made after birth and underwent successful surgical repair. At short and midterm follow-up all patients are alive and aortic valve regurgitation is absent or trivial. CONCLUSIONS: This series shows that aortico-left ventricular tunnel covers an anatomic spectrum of lesions. Cases diagnosed in utero by Doppler echocardiography are characterized by severe ventricular dysfunction, associated aortic valve lesions, and poor outcome. Postnatal cases represent the more favorable end of the spectrum, with no associated lesions, and can be repaired without mortality and with good functional results.

[Surgical treatment of isolated multiple ventricular septal defects. apropos of a series of 175 consecutive cases]. / Traitement chirurgical des communications interventriculaires multiples isolées, A propos d'une série consécutive de 175 cas.

Between January 1980 and September 1995, 175 children were operated for closure of isolated multiple ventricular septal defects (VSD) (mean age 20 +/- 8 months, mean weight 8.1 +/- 4.4 kg). Eighty-nine patients had pulmonary protection: pulmonary artery banding (n = 76) and pulmonary valvular stenosis (n = 13). The remainder had severe pulmonary hypertension (mean pulmonary systolic pressures: 75.7 +/- 20.5 mmHg). The surgical strategy was based on the site of the VSD and the ventricular dominance determined preoperatively or at surgery. The VSD were perimembranous in 141 cases, muscular in 175 cases, of the inlet septum in 19 cases and infundibular in 13 cases. A surgical approach through a right atriotomy was adequate for complete repair in 122 patients; a second approach was necessary by right (n = 35) or left ventriculotomy (n = 4) or both (n = 2) or via the pulmonary artery in 2 cases. The operative mortality was 7.4% (13 patients). The causes of death were: residual (VSD (n = 6), pulmonary hypertension (n = 2), ventricular hypoplasia (n = 2), myocardial infarction (n = 3). Of the 162 survivors, 33 had residual VSDs, 12 were reoperated once (n = 11) or twice (n = 1). The mortality was 54.5%. The patients were classified in two groups: Group I (n = 130), those operated before 1990, and Group II (n = 45), the ones operated afterwards. The low muscular VSDs and left ventriculotomy were risk factors for mortality in univariate analysis for Group I and the "Swiss Cheese" type for Group II.

Truncus arteriosus repair: influence of techniques of right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction.

Fifty-six consecutive patients underwent total correction of truncus arteriosus. Median age at repair was 41 days, with a range of 2 days to 8 months. In 71% the operation was done in the first 2 months of life. Nine patients had complex forms of truncus and 11 patients had aortic insufficiency. The truncal aortic root was transected, which provides a clear exposure of the coronary ostia. The aorta was reconstructed by direct end-to-end anastomosis, and the truncal valve was preserved in every case. Several different techniques were used for pulmonary reconstruction, including three types of anatomic reconstruction of the pulmonary valve with a trisigmoid leaflet system and two types of nonanatomic reconstruction. The anatomic techniques included use of 33 Dacron valved conduits, eight homograft valved conduits, and one porcine aortic root bioprosthesis. The nonanatomic reconstructions included direct anastomosis to the right ventricle in nine patients and insertion of autologous pericardial valved conduits in five. The hospital mortality was 16% (9/56; 95% confidence limits, 2% to 30%). Multivariate analysis outlines two independent incremental risk factors for hospital death: nonanatomic pulmonary valve reconstruction techniques and age younger than 1 month. The hospital mortality was 7.1% in the group with anatomic pulmonary valve reconstruction versus 43% in the group with nonanatomic pulmonary valve reconstruction (p = 0.015). The hospital mortality was 5.7% in those older than 1 month versus 33% in those younger than 1 month of age (p = 0.04). There were two late deaths. The actuarial freedom from reoperation and angioplasty at 7 years was 100% for patients receiving pericardial conduits, 80% for those undergoing direct anastomosis, 77% for those receiving Dacron conduits, and only 43% for those receiving homografts (p = 0.02). In conclusion, anatomic reconstruction of the pulmonary valve seems important at the time of the operation, age younger than 1 month remains an incremental risk factor, and the truncal valve can be preserved.

Surgical approaches for double-outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries associated with straddling atrioventricular valves.

The surgical management of patients with double-outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries and straddling atrioventricular valves remains a subject of controversy. Biventricular repair has theoretic advantages because it establishes normal anatomy and physiology. In some instances, however, it seems to carry too high operative risk, and a univentricular heart repair is preferred. Since 1984, we have operated on 34 patients with double-outlet right ventricle (n = 15) or transposition of the great arteries (n = 19) with isolated straddling tricuspid valve (n = 17), isolated straddling mitral valve (n = 9), both mitral and tricuspid straddling (n = 2), or abnormal insertion of tricuspid (n = 7) or mitral (n = 2) chordae in the left ventricular outlet, precluding an adequate tunnel construction. Straddling was categorized according to the location of the papillary muscle insertion in the opposite ventricular chamber: type A, on the edge of the ventricular septal defect (n = 14); type B, on the opposite side of the ventricular septum away from the edge of the defect (n = 8); type C, on the free wall of the opposite ventricular chamber (n = 8). Abnormal chordal insertions were classified according to the location of their attachments around the edges of the defect. Three types of chordal distribution were identified: on the aortic conus, on the pulmonary conus crossing the ventricular septal defect, or around the defect closing it like a curtain. All but three patients had two ventricles of adequate size. Sixteen patients underwent palliation. Median age at the definitive operation was 6.5 months (range 1 to 130 months). Thirty patients underwent a biventricular repair and four had a univentricular repair. Biventricular repair was achieved by an arterial switch operation in 18 patients and by tunnel construction from the left ventricle to the aorta in 12. In isolated straddling of types A and B, the ventricular septal defect was closed by adjusting the septal patch on the ventricular side above the straddled papillary muscle. In type C, the patch was sewn over the papillary muscle by applying it on the septum. In double straddling, the ventricular septum was incised between the two papillary muscles, and an ellipsoid patch was used to reconstruct the septal defect, directing each subvalvular apparatus into its own ventricular chamber. When the abnormal chordae in the left outflow tract inserted on the aortic or pulmonary conus, the conus was incised and tailored to make a flap, leaving an unobstructed left ventricular outflow tract. In two patients the subvalvular apparatus was resected and reattached to the patch. Curtainlike chordae were a contraindication to biventricular repair in double-outlet right ventricle but not in transposition. There were four early deaths and one late death, all occurring in the group having biventricular repair. Death was due to myocardial ischemia (n = 1), right ventricular hypoplasia (n = 1), pulmonary hypertension (n = 1), and residual subaortic stenosis (n = 1). Two patients had moderate to severe postoperative atrioventricular valve incompetence, caused by a cleft in the mitral valve in one patient. Three patients were reoperated on for subaortic stenosis (n = 1), pulmonary stenosis (n = 1), and mitral regurgitation (n = 1). Mean follow-up of 30.7 +/- 19.4 months was achieved in the survivors. All but one patient (univentricular repair) were in New York Heart Association class I, without atrioventricular valve incompetence. Actuarial survival at 4 years was 85.3% +/- 3%. We conclude that straddling or abnormal distribution of chordae tendineae of the atrioventricular valves does not preclude biventricular repair in double-outlet right ventricle or transposition of the great arteries provided that the ventricles are of adequate size. Curtainlike abnormal tricuspid chordae remain a contraindication to biventricular repair in double-outlet right ventricle.

Systemic obstruction in univentricular hearts: surgical options for neonates.

BACKGROUND: The surgical management for bridging patients with univentricular heart and systemic obstruction to a Fontan procedure remains controversial. METHODS: Twenty-seven of 96 patients with univentricular heart and unobstructed pulmonary blood flow referred for surgical palliation were seen with systemic obstruction. Twenty-six were neonates with coarctation of the aorta in 21 and subaortic stenosis in 5. In 8 other patients, subaortic stenosis developed after initial pulmonary artery banding. Four different palliative procedures were performed: coarctation repair with pulmonary artery banding (group I, n = 15); Norwood or Damus-Kaye-Stansel or arterial switch operation (group II, n = 9); coarctation repair with pulmonary artery banding and bulboventricular foramen enlargement (group III, n = 2); and orthotopic heart transplantation with coarctation repair (group IV, n = 1). RESULTS: The mortality rate was 34.3% (n = 12) for all patients, 53.3% in group I, 33.3% in group II (p = 0.003 versus group I), and 50% in group III. Nine patients (8 in group I and 1 in group II) had development of subaortic stenosis and underwent a subsequent procedure: Damus-Kaye-Stansel operation in 5, arterial switch operation in 3, and bulboventricular foramen enlargement in 1. Three had a concomitant or subsequent Fontan procedure and 2, a bidirectional Glenn procedure. In group II, 1 patient underwent a subsequent Fontan procedure and another, a bidirectional Glenn anastomosis. Six of the 8 patients with subaortic stenosis after initial pulmonary artery banding underwent a second stage consisting of a Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure (n = 3), bulboventricular foramen enlargement (n = 2), or creation of an aortopulmonary window (n = 1). Three had a concomitant Fontan procedure and 2, a bidirectional Glenn procedure. Actuarial 4-year survival was 65.5% +/- 8.4% (70% confidence limits) for all patients; it was 40% +/- 13.3% in group I and 66.6% +/- 16.3% in group II (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Initial management of patients with univentricular heart and systemic obstruction by Norwood-like procedures provides a better outcome. Success of the Fontan operation relies on the ability to provide timely relief of subaortic stenosis.

Reoperation after the arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.

Although most children after an arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries have normal development and cardiac function, a few require reoperation. During the last 10 years, 68 of 753 patients who underwent arterial switch operations (9.3%) underwent 75 reoperations. Thirty underwent early reoperation (< 30 days or during the same hospital stay) and 38 underwent late reoperation. Causes for reoperation included pacemaker insertion (n = 5), left diaphragm plication (n = 4), revision for hemostasis (n = 1), mediastinitis (n = 2), superior vena cava thrombosis (n = 9), subvalvular pulmonic stenosis (n = 5), supravalvular pulmonic stenosis (n = 16), residual atrial (n = 2) or ventricular (n = 8) septal defects, isolated mitral valve insufficiency (n = 2), aortic valve insufficiency (either isolated [n = 1] or in association with mitral incompetence [n = 1] or stenosis [n = 1]), left coronary artery ostial stenosis (n = 1), and recurrent aortic (n = 6) or neoaortic (n = 4) aortic coarctation. In all but 27 patients, the residual defects were already present immediately after the completion of the arterial switch operation; however, only patients with critical lesions were reoperated on early. Interventional catheterization procedures were performed when indicated; however, they only postponed inevitable reoperation. Successful relief of superior vena cava thrombosis was achieved by atriojugular bypass grafting in two patients, by early open thrombectomy in six patients, and by direct patch angioplasty of the superior vena cava once. Patch plasty for subvalvular or supravalvular pulmonic stenosis was carried out in 21 patients, septal defect closure was carried out in nine patients, and pulmonary artery banding was performed in one patient with criss-cross atrioventricular relationship and multiple ventricular septal defects. Valve repair was performed in all five patients with either isolated or combined aortic and mitral valve dysfunction. One patient with left coronary ostial stenosis underwent a patch enlargement of this ostium. Recoarctation was repaired by end-to-end anastomosis in eight patients and by a subclavian flap and a patch angioplasty in one patient each. Seven patients underwent a second reoperation for supravalvular pulmonary stenosis (n = 3), mitral valve replacement (n = 1), ventricular septal defect closure (n = 1), and recurrent coarctation (n = 2). There were six intraoperative (8.8%) and two late deaths. All early deaths occurred after early reoperations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Transposition of great vessels with position anomaly of the atrioventricular valves or chordae: echocardiographic aspects and surgical correlations]. / Transposition des gros vaisseaux avec anomalie de position des valves ou des cordages auriculo-ventriculaires: aspects échocardiographiques et confrontation chirurgicale.

The authors report the echocardiographic appearances of 27 cases of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with ventricular septal defect (VSD) (including the Taussig-Bing malformation) complicated by displacement of one or both atrioventricular valves and/or chordae tendinae diagnosed between September 1985 and September 1994. An anatomical repair was performed in 21 cases and allowed accurate correlation of the echocardiographic and peroperative findings; a cavo-bipulmonary conduit or a palliative procedure was performed in 6 cases. The cases were classified in 3 groups: group I: 16 children with isolated tricuspid valve abnormalities; group II: 7 cases of mitral valve straddling; group III: 4 cases of displacement of both atrioventricular valves and/or their chordae. The cases of group I were divided into 3 subgroups: subgroup Ia with insertion of the tricuspid chordae on the infundibular septum (7 cases); subgroup Ib with isolated overriding of the tricuspid valve (2 cases); subgroup Ic straddling with or without overriding of the tricuspid valve (7 cases). In all three groups, there were 10 cases of straddling of the tricuspid and 11 cases of straddling of the mitral valve: 9 type A, 3 type B and 9 type C of Tabry's classification. Echocardiography misdiagnosed one case of type A straddling of the tricuspid valve for a type A overriding and straddling of the mitral valve. The ventricular septal defect was situated in the admission septum in the 10 cases of straddling of the tricuspid; in the 11 cases of straddling of the mitral valve the chordae passed through the superior anterior part of the interventricular septum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Pulmonary artery banding in the treatment of univentricular heart. Results and therapeutic implications for cavopulmonary derivations]. / Cerclage de l'artère pulmonaire dans le traitement des coeurs univentriculaires. Résultats et implications thérapeutiques pour les dérivations cavopulmonaires.

Eighty-six children under one year of age with univentricular hearts associated with increased pulmonary flow underwent pulmonary artery banding as the first stage of palliative therapy. Fifteen patients also had treatment of coarctation of the aorta at the same time and an atrial septal defect was treated in 13 patients. Twenty-seven patients underwent a Fontan procedure secondarily. The mean follow-up was 42.6 +/- 45.5 months; 8 patients were lost to follow-up. Twenty-three patients died during the whole of the study period. The global actuarial survival rate was 69.6 +/- 5% at 5 years. The 3 year survival rate was 56 +/- 12% in patients with anatomical right ventricles compared with 74.4 +/- 5.7% and 69.5 +/- 7.3% at 3 and 5 years respectively in those with anatomical left ventricles (p < 0.01). The presence of coarctation of the aorta reduced the 5 year actuarial survival rate to 25.4 +/- 12.8% (p < 0.01). Subaortic stenosis either at the time of initial presentation or occurring during pulmonary banding was associated with a 5 year survival of 58.3 +/- 13.7% (p < 0.01). Uni- and multivariate analysis demonstrated poor prognostic risk factors. On univariate analysis, they were the residual mean pulmonary pressures after banding, coarctation of the aorta, subaortic stenosis and a restrictive atrial septal defect. Independent risk factors on multivariate analysis were the residual pulmonary pressures after banding, coarctation of the aorta, the necessity of operation in the neonatal period and the need for reoperation for reason other than for a cavopulmonary connection. The feasibility of a Fontan procedure was reduced when subaortic stenosis was observed at any time. Only 17.5% of patients were free of reoperation during this study for whom banding remained the only palliative procedure. In conclusion, a programme of cavopulmonary connection should be envisaged from the initial presentation of these patients. The different stages of treatment with this objective in mind should aim to preserve myocardial function and keep pulmonary resistances low. Therefore, pulmonary artery banding should be rejected in cases with coarctation of the aorta and/or subaortic stenosis. Similarly, early conversion with a Glenn type bidirectional anastomosis allows adaptation of myocardial function for a secondary total cavopulmonary connection.