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Systemic right ventricular failure after atrial switch operation: midterm results of conversion into an arterial
S H Daebritz1, A R Tiete, J S Sachweh
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital RWTH, Aachen, Germany. sabine.daebritz@hch.med.uni-muenchen.de
Background:
Failure of the systemic right ventricle after atrial switch operation can be treated by conversion into an arterial switch operation.
Methods:
Four patients, age 38 to 59 months, presented with right ventricular failure after Senning operation and ventricular septal defect closure. One patient had elevated left ventricular pressure; in the other three patients the left ventricle was retrained to a left ventricular/right ventricular pressure ratio of 0.8 or greater by pulmonary artery banding in 12 to 24 months.
Results:
Postoperative course after arterial switch operation was prolonged, but clinical condition was good at discharge. Fractional shortening ranged from 20% to 28%. Trace-to-moderate aortic regurgitation was present; only 1 patient had preserved sinus rhythm. After a mean follow-up of 43.5 months 1 patient had died due to left ventricular dysfunction. The survivors are in New York Heart Association functional class I to II. Fractional shortening has improved (29% to 37%); aortic regurgitation has not increased. No patient has undisturbed sinus rhythm.
Conclusions:
Conversion of an atrial into an arterial switch is an alternative to cardiac transplantation in childhood. However, the procedure is demanding. Long-term morbidity is caused by rhythm disturbances. Aortic valve performance and left ventricular function require close observation.