Double-outlet right ventricle with non-committed ventricular septal defect

The term non-committed was used to define hearts in which the VSD was anatomically related to, or was close to, neither great vessel, being separated from both by considerable muscle. We report our experience of the surgical management of this subset, considered being of particular surgical relevance.

Between January 1987 and December 1997, 23 patients having double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) with non-committed VSD underwent biventricular repair. Nine (39%) had undergone previous palliation. The median age was 20 months and the median weight was 8.5 kg. Two main types of repair were used: intraventricular baffle repair (n = 21) and arterial switch operation with VSD to pulmonary artery baffle (n = 2). At repair, 12 (52%) patients required concomitant VSD enlargement. In two other patients presenting with restrictive inlet VSD associated with tricuspid attachments, crossing the subaortic pathway biventricular repair was abandoned at operation.

There were two hospital deaths (9%, 70% CL: 3-19%). Eight patients (35%, 70% CL: 23-48%) underwent nine reoperations, six for subaortic stenosis. No late death occurred. At last visit, all patients were asymptomatic and only two had cardiac medication.

The biventricular repair of DORV with non-committed VSD is feasible in the vast majority of cases with comparable results to other subsets of DORV. After repair, the subaortic region is at risk for development of subaortic stenosis.