Long-Term Outcome of Interrupted Arch Repair With Direct Anastomosis and Homograft Augmentation Patch

This study analyzed outcomes of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) repair using a standardized technique to interpret the role of the arch repair on late outcomes in a complex and heterogeneous group of patients.

This single institution study covered the period from 1988 to 2015. A total of 120 cases of IAA were divided into four groups: IAA with ventricular septal defect (VSD) (n = 38), IAA with a Norwood or Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure (n = 41), IAA with truncus arteriosus (n = 24), and a miscellaneous group (n = 17). Arch repair was performed using a standard technique of direct anastomosis with homograft patch augmentation.

IAAs were predominantly type B (n = 81, 68%), and type A (n = 34, 28%), with a significant association of type B with truncus arteriosus and of type A with an aortopulmonary window (p < 0.01). Survival was similar in all groups. The incidence of catheter or surgical reintervention was 18% (confidence interval [CI], 10% to 25%) at 5 years and 18% (CI, 10% to 25%) at 10 years, with catheter reintervention more common and occurring before 18 months. Surgical reintervention occurred in 7% (CI, 2% to 13%) at 5 and 10 years and at 10 years the reintervention rate was lower in the group with truncus arteriosus (0%) and in the group with a Norwood or Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure (5%). There was no bronchial obstruction or aortic aneurysm. The Cox proportional hazard model showed that weight at surgery <2.5 kg and era of surgery were predictive of outcome, with surgical mortality rates in all variants dropping to 8.3% in the last 15 years of the study.

Repair of IAA using direct anastomosis and patch augmentation is applicable to all variants and provides good long-term arch patency. Survival is strongly associated with weight at surgery.