Patients with CCTGA are increasingly subject to CHF with advancing age; this complication is extremely common by the fourth and fifth decades. Tricuspid (systemic atrioventricular) valvular regurgitation is strongly associated with RV (anatomical right ventricle connected to aorta in CCTGA patients; systemic ventricle in CCTGA) dysfunction and CHF; whether it is causative or a secondary complication remains speculative.

For most children the panel recommended continuous antibiotic prophylaxis as initial treatment. Surgery was recommended for children with persistent reflux and other indications, as specified in the document.

Endoscopic treatment provides a high rate of success in children with reflux that decreases with increasing grade, although multiple treatments may be necessary. Future reports of endoscopic therapy should include rates of urinary tract infection and renal scarring.

No abstract

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty is a versatile operation that corrects proximal hypospadias defects with few complications and superior cosmetic results.

For most children the panel recommended continuous antibiotic prophylaxis as initial treatment. Surgery was recommended for children with persistent reflux and other indications, as specified in the document.

No abstract

Creation of a competent left atrioventricular valve is a cornerstone in surgical repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects. To identify risk factors for mortality and failure of left atrioventricular valve repair and to determine the impact of cleft closure on postoperative atrioventricular valve function, we retrospectively analyzed hospital records of 203 patients between January 1974 and January 1995. Overall early mortality was 7.9%. Operative mortality decreased significantly over the period of the study from 19% (4/21) before 1980 to 3% (2/67) after 1990 (p = 0.03). Ten-year survival including operative mortality was 91.3% +/- 0.004% (95% confidence limit): all survivors are in New York Heart Association class I or II. Preoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation was assessed in 203 patients by angiography or echocardiography and was trivial or mild in 103 (52%), moderate in 82 (41%), and severe in 18 (8%). Left atrioventricular valve cleft was closed in 93% (189/203) but left alone when valve leaflet tissue was inadequate and closure of the cleft might cause significant stenosis. Reoperation for severe postoperative left atrioventricular valve regurgitation was necessary in eight patients, five of whom initially did not have closure of the cleft and three of whom had cleft closure. Six patients had reoperation with annuloplasty and two patients required left atrioventricular valve replacement. Five patients survived reoperation and are currently in New York Heart Association class I or II. On most recent evaluation assessed by angiography or echocardiography (a mean of 59 months after repair), left atrioventricular valve regurgitation was trivial or mild in 137 of the 146 survivors (94%) examined; none had moderate or severe left atrioventricular valve stenosis. By multiple logistic regression analysis, strong risk factors for early death and need for reoperation included postoperative pulmonary hypertensive crisis, immediate postoperative severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and double-orifice left atrioventricular valve. These results indicate that complete atrioventricular septal defects can be repaired with low mortality and good intermediate to long-term results. Routine approximation of the cleft is safe and has a low incidence of reoperation for left atrioventricular valve regurgitation.