Reconstruction of a new pulmonary artery in arterial switch operation

Abstract

This study was undertaken to evaluate the new method for the reconstruction of the pulmonary artery in arterial switch operation (ASO). A total of 108 consecutive infants with congenital heart disease were treated with ASO in our department between January 2004 and June 2012. The new pulmonary arterial root was reconstructed with a fresh autologuos pericardium which was clipped pants-like with continuous mattress suture of 6-0 Prolene thread. Patients were reexamined consecutively at 3 and 6 months and 1, 2 and 6 years after discharge. The pulmonary arterial blood velocity was measured by continuous Doppler during systole. The pulmonary flow of healthy children of same age was also measured in the control group. Simplified Bernoulli formula was used to calculate the pressure gradient via the pulmonary artery for determining whether there was pulmonary stenosis. In this series, 96 infants survived after the surgery and 88 were followed up with a mean peirod of (22±4) months. No pulmonary stenosis was detected with the simplified Bernoulli formula. No pulmonary stenosis was detected with the simplified Bernoulli formula.