Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reoperation Research Articles

The Ross operation in young patients: 15-year's experience from a single Institution

Data on the long-term outcomes in young patients after the Ross operation are limited and the question of the best pulmonary valve substitute remain elusive. This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes in young patients who underwent the Ross operation with various pulmonary valve substitutes at a single institution. The retrospective study reviewed all patients (n = 112) who underwent the Ross operation at the University Hospital of Bordeaux, France between 2004 and 2020. Mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. Median age at operation was 15 years. Operative mortality was 0%. There were 1 late death (0,8%). Overall survival at 10 years was 99.2%. Freedom from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reoperation as better by the homograft compared to xenograft: 5.3 to 20% at 5 years and 5.3 and 65.7% at 10 years. The Ross procedure performed in young patients was associated with significative better freedom from RVOT reoperation with homograft compared with xenograft substitutes (P = 0,003).

Long-term outcomes after the paediatric Ross and Ross-Konno procedures.

The Ross procedure is an attractive option for the management of aortic valve disease in paediatric patients. We reviewed our experience with the paediatric Ross procedure to determine survival and freedom from reoperation in the third decade after surgery. We reviewed the data of 124 paediatric patients [71% male, median age at time of surgery 11.1 years (interquartile range 6-14.8 years); 63.7% bicuspid aortic valve], who underwent the Ross procedure at 2 tertiary centres from April 1991 to April 2020. The Ross-Konno procedures were performed on 14 (11.3%) patients. Deaths were cross-checked with the national health insurance database, and survival status was available for 96.8% of the patients. The median follow-up time was 12.1 years (interquartile range 3-18 years). There were 3 early and 6 late deaths. All early deaths occurred in patients aged <1 year at the time of surgery. The 25-year survival was 90.3%. Actuarial freedom from reoperation (linearized rates in parentheses) was as follows: Autograft reoperation was 90.8% (0.48%/patient-year) and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reoperation was 67% (2.07%/patient year) at 25 years. The univariable Cox-proportional hazard analysis revealed younger age at time of surgery (P < 0.001), smaller implanted valve size (P < 0.001) and the use of a xenograft rather than a homograft (P < 0.001) as predictors of RVOT reoperation. At multivariable Cox-proportional hazard analysis, only age was an independent risk factor for RVOT reoperation (P = 0.041). The Ross and the Ross-Konno procedures are associated with good outcomes in paediatric patients. Reoperation of the RVOT is frequent and associated with younger age.

Results of large pulmonary homograft implantation for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction.

To evaluate the long-term results of implantation of homogeneous large size of pulmonary homograft (PH) for reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Between January 2000 and December 2017, 107 patients were implanted with PH for reconstruction of the RVOT. Data were collected retrospectively in this single-center study. PH failure was defined as a peak of gradient greater than 40 mmHg and/or as a pulmonary regurgitation greater than Grade 2. Primary endpoint was the reoperation of the RVOT during follow-up. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, occurrence of PH failure and the rate of reoperation for all cause. Mean age of the recipients was 26.1 ± 13.6 years. Median follow-up interval was 2.99 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.2). Mean size of PH was 24.9 ± 1.9 mm. Reoperation of the RVOT occurred in eight patients (7.8%). Time before reoperation was 2.74 years (IQR: 6.4). Freedom from reoperation for RVOT at 5 and 10 years was respectively 95.7% and 90.0%. Overall survival at 10 years was 95.2%. PH failure occurred in 13 patients (12.0%). Median time before PH failure was 6.7 years (IQR: 9.6). Freedom from PH failure at 10 years was 81.6%. Reoperation for PH failure occurred in four patients (3.9%). Concomitant tricuspid surgery (p = .01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-319.6) and undersized PH (p = .01; 95% CI: 2.06-719.8) were independent risk factors of late reoperation. Implantation of large PH for RVOT reconstruction provides excellent midterm results in terms of reoperation.

Modified Repair of Type I and II Truncus Arteriosus Limits Early Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reoperation

Repair of truncus arteriosus often requires early right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reoperation. Using a modified repair, the branch pulmonary arteries are left in situ, which may avoid earlier RVOT reoperation. We hypothesized that our modified repair for type I and II truncus arteriosus would extend the time to RVOT reoperation. Infants with truncus arteriosus were divided into 2 groups: (1) traditional technique where the branch pulmonary arteries are excised from the truncal root, or (2) modified repair where the branch pulmonary arteries are left in situ and septated from the truncal root. Regardless of the approach, a bioprosthetic conduit or homograft was used to establish right ventricular to pulmonary artery continuity. Follow-up pulmonary artery angiograms were used to assess for branch pulmonary artery stenosis. From 54 infants (modified repair: 33, traditional technique: 21), there were no significant differences in age at repair, gender, or type of truncus arteriosus. With 100% follow-up, use of the modified repair resulted in a lower rate of branch pulmonary artery stenosis, and greater freedom from surgical branch pulmonary arterioplasty. Five- and 10-year freedom from RVOT reoperation (5 years: modified-81.5% vs traditional-30.5%, P = 0.004; 10 years: modified-53.3% vs traditional-30.5%, P = 0.01) favored the modified repair. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the modified repair was associated with an independently lower risk for RVOT reoperation (hazard ratio: 0.08, confidence interval: 0.01, 0.75, P = 0.02). Thus, maintaining the branch pulmonary artery architecture resulted in greater freedom from RVOT reoperation.

Mid-term results of correction of Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve

BackgroundTetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve (TOF/APV) is associated with significant pulmonary artery dilatation and airway compression. MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of 73 consecutive patients who underwent repair for TOF/APV between January 2005–August 2015. Mean age was 6.4±5.6years (28days–22years). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed using varied techniques. Freedom from RVOT gradients and re-operation was studied. ResultsThere were four (5.5%) early deaths, two each in infants and older children. Median ICU stay was 2days (range, 1–12days). Mean ICU stay for, infants, children and adults, was 6.5±6.04, 2.75±2.45, and 2.33±1.03days, respectively (p=0.0762). Median hospital stay was 6days (range, 4 to 15days). Mean hospital stay for, infants and children and adults was 7±2, 6.75±2.39, and 6.33±1.63days, respectively (p=0.325). Mean follow up was 65±36.6months (median 56 months, range 7–126 months). On follow up echocardiography, 14 (21.21%) had no pulmonary regurgitation. 21 (31.81%) had mild PR patients, 8 (12.12%) moderate PR and 19 (28.78%) had severe PR. There were five (7.5%) reoperations.Five and ten-year survival was 95%±2.12 and 92.3%±3.45 respectively. Freedom from RVOT reoperation was 93±2.62% and 89±3.87% at 5 and 10 years. ConclusionsIn contrast to children and adults with TOF/APV, infants carry significant early mortality. But the mid-term outcome for patients who survive the initial repair of TOF/APV is acceptable. However, these patients require constant surveillance and irrespective of the methods of RVOT management, the reoperation rates are expected to be high as more of these patients survive into adulthood.

Stentless xenografts as an alternative to pulmonary homografts in the Ross operation†

Because of the limited availability of pulmonary homografts (PH), porcine stentless xenografts (SX) have been proposed as an alternative for pulmonary valve replacement in the Ross operation. However, it is unknown whether they have similar good long-term durability. Therefore, we compared mid- to long-term outcomes between those two right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) substitutes. In 288 adults (>18 years) undergoing a Ross operation between 1991 and 2012, Freestyle(®) SX was used in 18 patients and a cryopreserved PH was used in 270 for RVOT reconstruction. Only patients with follow-up >2 years were included. According to the operative period, gender and age, 37 patients with PH could be matched with 17 SX patients. Clinical and echocardiographic follow-up were obtained. In a subset of patients (SX, n = 11 and PH, n = 25), a cardiac computed tomographic (CT) scan was performed to analyse graft calcification. The mean follow-up period was 8.2 ± 4.0 (range 2-14.6 years). During this period, 3 patients died from cancer, 2 in the SX group and 1 in the PH group (P = 0.15). No patient needed RVOT reoperation. At follow-up, RVOT peak gradient was 21 ± 5.9 mmHg in the SX and 16.3 ± 8.7 in the PH groups (P = 0.07). Peak gradient >40 mmHg was observed in only 1 patient in the PH group. Mean RVOT regurgitation was 0.1 ± 0.4 in the SX group and 0.8 ± 0.6 in the PH group (P = 0.008). CT scan analyses showed progressive calcification mainly of the graft wall, while the valve remained relatively free of calcium. Patients with the SX presented significantly higher calcium scores than those with PH (P = 0.01). In adult patients having the Ross operation, calcic degeneration is observed in both the PH and the SX used as pulmonary substitutes. Calcification progresses more rapidly in the SX compared with the PH. In both grafts, calcifications affect mainly the wall, while the valve remains relatively free of calcium. As a consequence, both grafts show good and similar haemodynamic outcomes at mid- to long-term follow-up. The Freestyle(®) SX can be considered as an acceptable alternative for RVOT reconstruction when PH is not available.

Tetralogy of Fallot With Atrioventricular Septal Defect: Surgical Strategies for Repair and Midterm Outcome of Pulmonary Valve-Sparing Approach

Repair for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) has been reported with good early and intermediate outcomes. Morbidity, however, remains significantly high. To date, repair of CAVSD/TOF using a pulmonary valve-sparing technique (PVS) and freedom from valve reoperation are not well defined. A study was undertaken to investigate outcomes. This study was conducted in as a retrospective investigation. Between January 1988 and December 2008, 13 consecutive patients with CAVSD/TOF were identified, and their records were reviewed retrospectively. Of these 13 patients, 9 had Rastelli type C CAVSD. Trisomy 21 was present in 9 cases (69 %; 7 with type C). Five patients had received a systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (SPS) before complete repair at a mean age 1.7 ± 0.6 months. All the patients survived until complete repair. At complete CAVSD/TOF repair, AVSD was corrected with a two-patch technique in all patients. For eight patients (61.5 %), PVS was used. The remaining five patients had transannular patch (TAP) repair. The mean age at complete repair was 6.3 ± 2.4 months. At complete repair, the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 173.5 ± 30.6 min, and the cross-clamp time was 134.7 ± 28.8 min. There was one hospitalization and no late deaths. The median follow-up period was 9.2 years [interquartile range (IQR), 4.7-13.3 years]. The actuarial survival was 90.0 ± 9.5 % at 1 year, 90 ± 9.5 % at 5 years, and 90 ± 9.5 % at 8 years. Of the 12 survivors, 6 had some reintervention during the follow-up period. Within the first 11 years after complete repair, two patients underwent left atrioventricular (AV) valve repair, and one patient had right AV valve repair. Two patients had residual VSD closure. Four patients underwent the first right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reintervention for critical insufficiency or stenosis at a mean interval of 6 ± 21) months. One patient had a second RVOT reoperation. Findings showed that CAVSD/TOF with PVS was related to significantly higher freedom from RVOT reintervention (100 % at 1, 5, and 8 years compared with 80 ± 17.9 % at 1 year, 60 ± 21.9 % at 5 years, and 40 ± 21.9 % at 8 years for CAVSD/TOF using TAP; P < 0.05). No patient who underwent PVS had left ventricular outflow tract obstruction requiring reoperation. Overall freedom from any reintervention was 90.9 ± 8.6 % at 1 year, 71.6 ± 14.0 % at 5 years, and 53.7 ± 8.7 % at 8 years in this group of patients. Correction of TOF with CAVSD can be performed at low risk with favorable intermediate-term survival and satisfactory freedom from reoperation. Use of TAP can be avoided in almost two thirds of patients and may influence freedom from early RVOT reintervention.

Assessment of a right-ventricular infundibulum-sparing approach in transatrial–transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot

The study aimed to evaluate the outcome of transatrial-transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot in relation to a right-ventricular outflow tract (RVOT)-sparing surgery. Based on the surgical management of right-ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) at repair of tetralogy of Fallot, 140 children were retrospectively divided into three groups: (1) pulmonary valve (PV)-sparing, (2) infundibulum-sparing and (3) extended trans-annular patch (TAP). Clinical and echocardiographic outcome was assessed with regards to three equally divided study time eras between January 1994 and June 2010. Over a 15-year study period, median age decreased from 11 (2-101) to 5 (1-11) months (p<0.001), whereas type of RVOT repair changed significantly between the first and the last era (group 1: 18-40%, group 2: 25-40% vs group 3: 57-20% (p=0.002)). Mortality was 0%. Complications were mainly related to clinical restrictive RV physiology (27%) and arrhythmia (10%). This cardiac morbidity remained constant over the eras and was associated with younger age (p=0.04), increased postoperative right ventricle/left ventricle (RV/LV) pressure ratio (p=0.01) and type of RVOT repair at the cost of TAP (p=0.03). Median follow-up of 8 years (1-16 years) showed an overall freedom from RVOT re-operation of 84% and 73%, respectively at 5 and 10 years. Most re-operations were for residual/recurrent RVOTO (12%) occurring more frequently in the latter era: 16% versus 7% in era 1 (p=0.08). Late echocardiographic evaluation revealed a strong correlation between severity of pulmonary regurgitation and increased RV/LV size ratio, which was mainly determined by increased TAP length (p<0.001) and duration of follow-up (p=0.06). In a 15-year's experience with transatrial-transpulmonary correction of tetralogy of Fallot, a valve- and infundibulum-sparing approach has been advanced by lowering the age for elective repair. This change has been performed without compromising immediate clinical outcome, despite an increased early re-operation rate for residual obstruction. However, longer follow-up will disclose whether this approach is protective against progressive and late RV dysfunction.

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction in Ross Patients: Does the Homograft Fare Better?

In the Ross aortic valve replacement (AVR) procedure, the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduit is inserted in an orthotopic position. In complex congenital RVOT obstruction, the right ventricular-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit is placed in a more heterotopic position. We hypothesized that durability of homograft RVOT reconstruction in the Ross AVR is improved secondary to orthotopic positioning and the ability to oversize the RV-PA homograft conduit in the Ross AVR. Between June 1993 and May 2007, 183 consecutive patients (mean age, 23.3 +/- 15.2; median, 22; range, 1 month to 61 years) underwent Ross AVR with RVOT reconstruction using a cryopreserved pulmonary homograft (n = 156), decellularized pulmonary homograft (n = 22), and bovine jugular vein conduit (n = 5). Three patients died (2 early, 1 late; mean follow-up, 5.7 +/- 3.3 years). Twenty-four patients (13%) had a peak systolic RVOT gradient exceeding 20 mm Hg, 5 (3%) had a gradient exceeding 40 mm Hg, and 7 (4%) had more than 2+ RVOT insufficiency. Eight patients (4%) underwent conduit replacement for RV dysfunction. Freedom from RVOT reoperation at 10 years is 96%. Freedom from RV failure and dysfunction are 98% and 96% at 5 years and 96% and 93% at 10 years, respectively. Independent predictors of pulmonary homograft RV-PA conduit dysfunction are smaller (< 14 mm) RVOT conduit size (p = 0.03) and follow-up exceeding 5 years (p = 0.05). Stenosis and regurgitation of the RV-PA conduit in adults and children following Ross AVR is infrequent. The most logical reasons for the superior performance of the homograft in Ross patients are: (1) orthotopic positioning, (2) older age of implant, and (3) the ability to significantly oversize the homograft in Ross patients.

Abstract 3176: Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation Is A Successful Treatment Option For RVOT Conduit Failure After Ross Procedure

Background- The Ross operation offers good autograft function and low re-operation rates for the left ventricular outflow tract, however, the rate of conduit dysfunction in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) remains a significant concern. Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is a novel trans-catheter treatment option for RVOT conduit dysfunction. Methods and Results- Of the 156 patients who underwent PPVI at our institutions with the current device, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 11 patients (mean age: 26±5 years) who had RVOT conduit failure, 11.3±3.2 years following the Ross operation. PPVI could be performed in all patients (procedure time: 100±15 min; fluoroscopy time: 20±6 min). The RVOT gradient during catheterization and pulmonary regurgitant fraction (PRF) measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fell after PPVI (RVOT gradient: 35±6.5 mmHg to 14±2.8 mmHg, P&lt;0.01; PRF: 18±6% to 3±2%, P&lt;0.05). During mean follow-up of 17.4±5.2 months, there was 1 explantation (re-stenosis). The probability for freedom from RVOT re-operation was 100% at 1 year and 85.7% at 3 years. Conclusions- Failure of the conduit in the RVOT following Ross procedure can be successfully treated with PPVI to decrease the cumulative surgical burden in the lifetime management of congenital or acquired lesions of ventricular outflow tracts.

Surgical outcomes in the treatment of patients with tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve☆

Tetralogy of Fallot and absent pulmonary valve (TOF/APV) is associated with significant pulmonary artery dilatation and airway compression. Treatment of infants presenting with respiratory symptoms early in life is associated with high mortality (20-60%). We aim to report our results and identify factors associated with survival and prolonged ventilation. We performed a retrospective review of 62 consecutive patients following repair of TOF/APV (1982-2006). Median age at repair was 1.4 years (1 day-35 years). Twenty patients required preoperative intubation. Sixty-one patients underwent complete repair. Thirty-three patients underwent pulmonary artery plication (n=15) or reduction (n=18). The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed with valved conduit (n=31), bioprosthetic valve (n=18), monocusp (n=8), or transannular patch (n=4). There were three perioperative and five late deaths. All perioperative deaths were in neonates and before 1995. Five- and ten-year survival was 93+/-4% and 87+/-5%. Mean ventilatory requirements for neonates, infants, and children > or =1 year were 36+/-35, 8+/-8, and 2.6+/-2.4 days (p<0.0001). On multivariable analysis, significant factors associated with prolonged ventilation were neonates (p<0.0001) and preoperative mechanical ventilation (p=0.088). Eight airway reinterventions were needed in seven infants with persistent postoperative airway compromise, pulmonary artery suspension (n=4), innominate artery suspension (n=2), and lobectomy (n=2). Freedom from RVOT reoperation was 89+/-5% and 59+/-9% at 5 and 10 years. There were no significant risk factors for time-related survival or RVOT reoperation on multivariable analysis. In contrast to children and adults with TOF/APV, neonates and small infants presenting with respiratory symptoms require prolonged ventilation and additional reinterventions for airway compression. Our current surgical approach which includes reduction and suspension of pulmonary arteries, reconstruction of a competent RVOT, and aggressive postoperative ventilatory management to relieve airway obstruction offers satisfactory outcomes.