Long-term functional analysis of the atrioventricular valve in patients undergoing single ventricle palliation

Presently, there are wide variations in cardiac anatomies requiring single ventricular palliation and these variations may have an impact on the incidence of atrioventricular valve regurgitation.

In all, 363 patients underwent single ventricular palliation (1978 to 2008). Hearts were first classified into single right ventricle (156), single left ventricle (140), and two ventricles (63); and secondly into single mitral (90), single tricuspid (64), two separate valves (110), and common atrioventricular valves (95).

The incidence of atrioventricular valve regurgitation and the necessity of repair were the highest with common atrioventricular valves, followed by tricuspid and mitral valves (p < 0.0001). The success rate (postoperative regurgitation of mild or less) of repair was similar (p = 0.9800). Estimated survival for patients having moderate or greater atrioventricular valve regurgitation was similar to the rest of the patients (p = 0.8705). Patients were more likely to have progressive mitral regurgitation in the presence of both mitral and tricuspid valves, compared with single mitral valve (p = 0.0207). There were 2 patients who had severe mitral regurgitation; both had a nonsystemic left ventricle isolated from the circulation by malposition of the great arteries and restrictive/remote ventricular septal defect. In contrast, coexisting mitral valves reduced the incidence of potential tricuspid regurgitation (p = 0.0012).

If performed properly, atrioventricular valve repair may neutralize the risk of regurgitation regardless of the valve morphology. The effort to incorporate the mitral valve into the systemic circulation may be important to reduce tricuspid regurgitation. The effort to decompress a nonsystemic left ventricle, if present, may be important to avoid unfavorable ventricular interactions on the mitral valve.