Outcomes of Biventricular and Single Ventricle Heterotaxy Patients: A Single Center Five-Decade Experience

Abstract

BackgroundSurgical palliation of patients with heterotaxy syndrome has proven challenging. Long-term outcomes have historically been poor. Factors contributing to these outcomes are not completely understood. MethodsThe institutional databases were queried for patients with heterotaxy syndrome from 1973 to 2021. Comparisons were made between patients managed with single ventricle physiology and biventricular physiology. ResultsHeterotaxy syndrome was identified in 230 patients (polysplenia, 47%; asplenia, 53%). In all, 199 patients had single ventricle physiology; 180 (78%) had undergone Fontan palliation. Thirty-one patients had biventricular physiology, including 20 (9%) with surgical intervention and 11 (5%) without surgical intervention. Median age at Fontan was 7.5 years (interquartile range, 8.8). Median follow-up was 20 years (interquartile range, 21). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed decreased survival with single ventricle physiology (53% ± 4%, vs biventricular 93% ± 5% at 30 years; P = .001), as well as asplenia compared with polysplenia (49% ± 5% vs 68% ± 5% at 30 years; P < .001). Polysplenia patients with biventricular physiology demonstrated the best survival (100% alive, vs 53% ± 25% of asplenia biventricular at 30 years; P < .001). Overall, 8 patients (3.5%) underwent cardiac transplantation at a median age of 17 years. On multivariable analysis, risk factors associated with mortality included single ventricle physiology (odds ratio [OR] 7.2; 95% CI, 2.4-21.7), no prior Glenn (OR 3.6; 95% CI, 1.9-6.7), need for permanent pacemaker (OR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.6), and asplenia (OR 2.7; 95% CI, 1.5-5.0). ConclusionsOverall, patients with asplenia demonstrated decreased survival compared with patients with polysplenia; and single ventricle physiology had decreased survival compared with biventricular. Patients with biventricular physiology and polysplenia had the best survival.