Dilatation and Dysfunction of the Neo-aortic Root and in 76 Patients After the Ross Procedure.

Pulmonary autograft replacement (Ross procedure) is used as an alternative to prosthetic aortic valve replacement patients with aortic valve disease. There are limited data on incidence and risk factors for dilatation and dysfunction of the neo-aortic after the Ross procedure. Ross procedure was performed in 100 patients at our institution between 1993 and 2011. In 76 patients, complete follow-up data were available. Their median age at surgery was 16 (0.4-58) years (76 % males; 95 % with congenital aortic valve disease). Median follow-up duration was 5.2 years (0.3-16.0 years). We analyzed their clinical and echocardiographic follow-up to identify possible risk factors for neo-aortic root dilatation and dysfunction. Ross procedure included reduction plasty of the native ascending aorta in 25 % of patients. During follow-up, 21 patients (28 %) developed neo-aortic root dilatation, 38 patients (50 %) dilatation oft the native ascending aorta and 7 patients (9 %) at least moderate neo-aortic regurgitation. Univariate risk factors for neo-aortic root dilatation were preoperative aortic regurgitation (p = 0.04), concomitant reduction plasty of the ascending aorta (p = 0.009) and a longer duration of follow-up (p = 0.005). Younger age at surgery was associated with dilatation of the ascending aorta (p = 0.03). Reoperation on the neo-aortic root because of severe dilatation was necessary in 6 patients (8 %), where 2 patients had at least moderate neo-aortic root regurgitation. Neo-aortic root and aortic dilatation are common after the Ross procedure. This is often combined with neo-aortic valve dysfunction. Close follow-up of these patients is mandatory.

Predictors of parental quality of life after child open heart surgery: a 6-month prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively assess parental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its predictors after child open heart surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Mothers (n = 135) and fathers (n = 97) of 138 children were assessed at discharge from hospital and 6 months after open heart surgery of their child. Parental HRQoL was compared with population norms. Medical, demographic, and psychosocial predictors of HRQoL were examined. RESULTS: In both parents, several domains of HRQoL were decreased at their child's hospital discharge with mothers showing lower HRQoL than fathers. Mental domains were more affected than physical domains. At 6 months, parental HRQoL was within or above population norms. At discharge, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and at 6 months a high impact of the child's disease on family life were associated with low mental HRQoL in both parents. In mothers, lower socioeconomic status and foreign nationality were also associated with a higher risk for low mental HRQoL at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Parents' mental HRQoL is low in the immediate period after their child's open heart surgery but normalizes after 6 months. However, parents in whom the child's disease has a high impact on their family life are at increased risk for persistent low mental HRQoL.

Normal right- and left ventricular volumes and myocardial mass in children measured by steady state free precession cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of ventricular volume by steady state free precession (SSFP) cardiovascular magnetic resonance is accurate and reproducible. Normal values exist for adults, but are lacking for children.We sought to establish normal values for left and right ventricular volumes, mass and function in healthy children by using SSFP. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty children (27 females, 23 males) without cardiovascular disease were evaluated. Median age was 11 years (range 7 months - 18 years), weight 35 kg (range 7-77 kg), height 146 cm (range 66-181 cm). Thirty-six examinations were performed with breath holding, 14 in freely breathing sedated children.Ventricular volumes and mass were measured in the end systolic and end diastolic phase on SSFP cine images acquired in a short axis plane as a stack of 12 contiguous slices covering full length of both ventricles. Regression analysis showed an exponential relationship between body surface area (BSA) and ventricular volumes and mass (normal value = a*BSAb). Normative curves for males and females are presented in relation to BSA for the end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and mass of both ventricles. Intra- and interobserver variability of the measurements was within the limits of 2% and 7% respectively, except for right ventricular mass (10%). CONCLUSION: The exponential equation for calculation of normal values for each ventricular parameter and graphical display of normative curves for data acquired in healthy children by SSFP cardiovascular magnetic resonance are provided.

Accuracy of knowledge-based reconstruction for measurement of right ventricular volume and function in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

We tested the accuracy and reproducibility of knowledge-based reconstruction (KBR) for measuring right ventricular (RV) volume and function. KBR enables rapid assessment of the right ventricle from sparse user input by referencing a database. KBR generates a 3-dimensional surface to fit points that the user enters at anatomic landmarks. We measured the RV volume using KBR from magnetic resonance images in 20 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot at end-diastole and end-systole. We entered points in the long- and short-axis and/or oblique views. The true volume was computed by manually tracing the RV borders for 3-dimensional reconstruction using the piecewise smooth subdivision surface method. The reference database included 54 patients with tetralogy of Fallot patients. The KBR values agreed closely with the true values for the end-diastolic volume (r = 0.993), end-systolic volume (r = 0.992), and ejection fraction (EF; r = 0.930). KBR slightly overestimated the end-diastolic volume (4 +/- 10 ml, p = NS), end-systolic volume (1 +/- 9 ml, p = NS), and EF (4 +/- 3%, p = NS). No bias in the error was found by Bland-Altman analysis (p = NS for end-diastolic and end-systolic volume and EF). The KBR volumes had approached the true volumes (235 +/- 93 vs 243 +/- 93, p = 0.012, r = 0.978 for end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes combined) already after the first run and the entry of 19 +/- 3 points. In conclusion, KBR provided accurate measurement of the RV volume and EF with minimal user input. KBR is a clinically feasible alternative to full manual tracing of the heart borders from imaging data.