The CRT yielded improvement in systemic RV function in patients with spontaneous or LV pacing-induced electromechanical dyssynchrony and seems to be a promising adjunct to the treatment and prevention of systemic RV failure.
Our experience confirmed better results after the primary repair of interrupted aortic arch, which was associated with lower mortality, prevalence of severe complications and need for re-intervention. Higher prevalence of subaortic stenosis after primary repair could be explained by patient selection early in our experience. We recommend the primary repair of interrupted aortic arch and associated heart lesions in neonates, however, in unfavourable conditions an individualised surgical approach with initial palliative surgery should be considered.
Thirteen children (age range 6 h-11 years, median 4 months) operated upon for aortico-left ventricular tunnel since 1971 are reported. All patients had systolic and diastolic murmurs, 4 of 5 neonates were in severe congestive heart failure. Twelve children had left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG with an ischaemic pattern in the neonates. Chest X-ray revealed cardiomegaly with a broad upper mediastinal shadow from the enlarged aorta. Echocardiography (2DE) revealed a tubular communication between the aorta and the left ventricle bypassing the aortic valve and massive regurgitation through this tunnel demonstrated by Doppler sonography. In 8 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed by angiography. The tunnel arose from the right coronary sinus in 12 and from the left coronary sinus in 1 patient. The tunnel was closed at both ends in 8, at the aortic end only in 3 and at the ventricular end in the remaining 2 cases. One 6-day-old infant, operated upon in 1971 died postoperatively. There was 1 non-cardiac related late death due to a brain tumour. Echocardiographic analysis of left ventricular size and function was carried out in 9 children up to 39 months after surgery. Mild to moderate aortic incompetence was detected during the follow-up period in 2 of 12 patients. All surviving children are leading normal lives.
Truncus arteriosus remains a challenging heart disease. With growing experience, the early mortality decreased to 4%, but numerous re-interventions for conduit obstruction, pulmonary branch stenosis and truncal valve insufficiency are required. Surgery before 1997 and prolonged cross-clamping were risk factors of death. Pulmonary homografts had the best re-intervention-free survival. Statistically, however, the difference between conduits was not significant. Dysplastic valve and truncal valve insufficiency represent risk factors presenting the need for truncal valve replacement.
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