Aortic arch geometry after the Norwood procedure: The value of arch angle augmentation

Aortic arch reconstruction in the Norwood procedure is occasionally associated with postoperative airway and branch pulmonary artery stenosis, as well as recoarctation. This study investigated geometric changes in the aortic arch after the Norwood procedure and evaluated the efficacy of arch angle augmentation with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium in aortic arch reconstruction.

Of 52 consecutive patients who underwent the Norwood procedure between 1998 and 2013, a total of 36 patients who underwent postoperative multidetector-row computed tomographic angiography were reviewed retrospectively, and divided into 2 groups according to whether arch angle augmentation with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium was performed (AAA group, 26 patients) or not (NA group, 10 patients).

The neoaortic arch in the Norwood procedure was characterized by having a significantly smaller angle, being lower in height, and being narrower than that in age-matched control patients with a normal aortic arch. Moreover, all of these arch geometric measurements were significantly larger in the AAA group than in the NA group. Freedom from reintervention and reoperation for bronchomalacia or branch pulmonary artery stenosis, caused by extrinsic compression of the neoaorta, was significantly better at 1 year in the AAA group than in the NA group. Recoarctation of the neoaorta was documented in only 1 (3.8%) patient in the AAA group versus 3 patients (30%) in the NA group.

Arch angle augmentation with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium in the Norwood procedure creates more aortopulmonary space with a smoother arch angle and diminished incidence of postoperative recoarctation, bronchial compression, or branch pulmonary artery compression.