[Modified Jatene operation for the repair of left ventricle aneurysm]

134 left ventricle aneurysm operations were performed at our institute between 1993 and 2000. The original Jatene operation was modified by our workgroup: running sutures and abandoning Teflon pledges for faster operation; an additional linear closure of the remnant aneurysm above the patch to eliminate bleeding complications.

The aim of this study was to describe our surgical technique, its advantages against other surgical methods in left ventricle aneurysms.

We divided our patients into three subgroups: linear techniques, such as plication (PL) n = 54, resection (RE) n = 45, and circular technique modified Jatene operation (MJ) n = 35. We performed a I. retrospective study in these subgroup, and a II. long-term clinical follow-up in MJ group.

We did not find any technical difficulties in modified Jatene operations (there was no significant difference in operating times and cross clamping times in linear versus circular techniques). On the other hand, we found significantly better left ventricle geometry after circular method with echocardiography. There was no short-term (< 30 days) mortality in RM group. II. In the RM group long-term clinical follow-up we found further improvement in left ventricle geometry. We lost 1 patient (2.94%) because of cardiac death, and 2 patients (5.88%) had heart transplantation. All patients were in NYHA class I or II.

In left ventricle aneurysm surgery circular techniques should be preferred because the better results in left ventricle geometry. We think that our improvements in Jatene's operation significantly decreased surgical difficulties, and through decreasing operating time short and long term outcome can be positively affected.